How to Grow and Care for River Birch Tree

River Birch Tree Care

Here are the main care requirements for growing river birch trees:

• Plant in the spring or fall as a container-grown or balled-and-burlap plant when the soil is moist, and the temperatures are cool.
• Prefers soil temperatures to remain cool, similar to a swampland or near a river or bog.
• Needs acidic soil to prevent iron chlorosis, an iron deficiency that causes yellowing of its leaves.
• Avoid planting near pavement since it limits water availability; consider placing it at the base of a hill or slope so it can collect water run-off.
• Will grow as a lawn tree but needs frequent water.

Light

Plant river birch trees in full sun (at least six hours of direct sunlight on most days) to part shade locations.

Soil

This tree is best planted where the soil is consistently moist or can be watered frequently. The soil should have a pH between 5.0 to 6.5 for best results. Iron chlorosis may affect the tree and cause yellowing leaves if it is not within this range. This tree does not care for alkaline soils, nor will it do well in soils that frequently dry out. It has good tolerance for dense, poor-draining soils.

Water

Unless the tree grows in naturally soggy soil, it should be watered deeply for two to three hours once a week to keep the soil around the tree moist. This means a good soaking of 2 inches or more. This tree needs damp soil and will suffer during periods of drought. A thirsty tree is more likely to suffer insect or disease problems. Adding mulch will help keep the soil cool, which will protect the roots from drying out. Do not place mulch where it will touch the trunk.

Temperature and Humidity

This tree is suited to grow in USDA zones 4 to 9 and has a better tolerance for warm conditions than most birch species, which favor cooler climates. Still, river birch performs better in regions without blistering summers, and warm climates may shorten its lifespan. It is most prevalent in the humid areas of the eastern U.S., where it is often found in flood plains and swampy areas. This tree prefers humid weather over dry climates.

Fertilizer

Fertilizer is only needed if the tree shows signs of distress. Weakened trees will benefit from a spring feeding with a slow-release granular fertilizer mixed into the soil over the root zone. Where soil is too alkaline, feeding with an acidifying fertilizer may be useful. For the amount to use, follow the product label instructions.

Types of River Birch Trees

River birch in the Betula birch family and is a native to the swamplands and floodplains of the eastern United States. The native species grows about 60 to 80 feet at maturity and about 40 feet wide. Several named cultivars of river birch offer some improvements over the native species. Dwarf varieties may grow slower, taking 10 years or so to reach 10 feet.

• Heritage is a commercially trademarked version of Betula nigra ‘Cully.’ It has larger, glossy, dark green leaves and interior bark with nearly pure white color and is more heat tolerant than the species.
• ‘Summer Cascade’ (Betula nigra ‘Summer Cascade’) is a weeping form that grows only 6 feet high and 10 feet wide.
• ‘Fox Valley’ is a commercially trademarked version of  Betula nigra ‘Little King’. It is a compact tree growing 10 to 12 feet tall.
• ‘Shiloh Splash’ (Betula nigra ‘Shiloh Splash’) is a smaller cultivar, growing 10 feet high with an 8-foot spread. It has variegated foliage with creamy ivory edges.
• Dura Heat® (‘BNMTF’) is a more heat and drought-tolerant variety with a dense, pyramidal growth pattern. The exfoliating bark is pinkish-orange in color.

Pruning

River birch is a self-pruning tree. it will easily shed branches that are diseased or unhealthy, making it require very little maintenance. If you are pruning, river birch is best pruned in fall and winter. Avoid early spring pruning while the tree’s sap is running. Bronze birch borers are out in full force in late spring and early summer and may take advantage of fresh pruning wounds.

Leave at least 75 percent of the tree intact when pruning. Branches that rub together should be removed. Also, remove branches that grow straight up from the trunk, as these have a weak attachment.

Propagating River Birch Trees

Most people don’t want to wait many years to propagate a real tree, but birch trees are fast-growing enough that you won’t need to wait decades to see real results. If you want to try it, river birch is a relatively easy tree to reproduce, either by collecting and planting the seeds or by taking stem cuttings and rooting them. Here’s how to propagate through cuttings:

1. As new growth begins in early spring, use sharp pruners to take 6- to 8-inch cuttings from new wood near the tips of the stems, where new wood joins old wood. Ensure the cutting has several leaf nodes, then remove all but the top one or two leaves.
2. The failure rate for propagating from cuttings can be high, so it is best to take at least five cuttings to ensure one develops roots and grows into a sapling.  
3. Dip the cut end in rooting hormone, then plant the cutting about 3 inches deep in a pot filled with sandy potting mix.
4. Place the potted cutting in a bright outdoor location and moisten the soil until new leaves sprout. Grow it in the pot until the tree is large enough to plant in the garden.

How to Grow River Birch Trees From Seed

The best way to propagate by seed is to collect catkins from the tree in early spring. Catkins are the flower clusters that contain the fruit, or in this case, nutlets. The nutlets are the seeds.

1. Crush the catkins to release the seeds. Remove the papery outer hull of the seed.
2. Place a seed in moistened sand in a zipper-lock bag in the refrigerator for two months; keep the sand moist throughout the period.
3. Place the seeds in pots filled with potting soil (or a loamy, sandy mixture), scatter a thin layer of potting mix on top, and keep them in bright conditions (16 hours a day or more) until they germinate and sprout. It is best to keep the temperature in the 80s during the day and 70s at night.
4. Never allow the soil to dry out.
5. Germination should occur within four to six weeks.
6. Keep the sprout moist and continue providing warmth as the seedling grows.
7. Continue growing in pots until they are large enough to transplant into the landscape. They can also be planted directly in garden soil in your chosen locations.
8. These trees readily self-seed, and it’s also an easy matter to transplant the young volunteers.

Overwintering

River birch generally overwinters without incident when planted within its established hardiness range. However, these thin-barked trees can be susceptible to gnawing from rabbits and other animals. Young trees will especially appreciate having their trunks shielded with hardware cloth or another tree guard for the winter months when hungry creatures are looking to gnaw.

Common Pests and Plant Diseases

Another benefit of river birch is that it is one of the more trouble-free birch species. River birch trees are a good choice when other birch trees have proved problematic; it rarely suffers from diseases and pests. Occasional issues with aphids or fungal leaf-spot diseases may occur but are rarely serious. However, seldomly, it will get affected by more serious issues, including:

• Like any birch, it may fall prey to the birch leafminer (Fenusa pusilla). The symptoms are large blotches on the leaves. The best treatment is a systemic pesticide that targets these insects. A professional best applies these chemicals.
• This tree is more resistant to the bronze birch borer (Agrilus anxius) than other birch species but is not immune. These beetles tunnel into the bark and feed on the cambium layer, disrupting the tree’s ability to transfer water and nutrients. Symptoms include yellowing and thinning of the foliage, beginning with the upper crown. A systemic pesticide a professional applies may defeat bronze birch borer if the damage is not widespread.
• Anthracnose leaf blight (Gloeosporium betularum) is a fungal disease that causes leaves to curl and wither after developing splotches or brown spots. The general recommendation is to keep the tree healthy and tolerate minor illnesses. Only in very severe cases is treatment with a fungicide recommended.
• Birch dieback is a fungal-related disease in which entire branches of the birch tree begin to die back. Damage from bronze birch borers can also initiate birch dieback. When you notice affected branches, prune them back to good living wood. Then, carefully nurture the tree’s overall health, ensuring it gets plenty of water. Have the tree examined for bronze birch borers and treat it if necessary.

How to Get River Birch Trees to Bloom

River birches will take two or three years to produce catkins. Failure to bloom is usually traced to a temporary cultural problem—untimely frost that kills the buds as they form or prolonged drought. The tree almost always returns to a regular cycle when environmental conditions stabilize.

Bloom Months

River birch is a monoecious tree containing male and female flowers on the same trees. River birch produces male catkins—compact, closed flower clusters from August to October. It also forms female catkin flowers in the spring during April and May. Bloom for both catkins occurs in the spring when the female catkins appear.

What Do River Birch Tree Flowers Look and Smell Like?

The male flowers are brown, drooping catkins, while female catkins are smaller and upright. The flowering clusters offer no fragrance. Although not particularly colorful, the dangling catkins do offer some winter interest.

Common Problems With River Birch Trees

A healthy river birch will be relatively trouble-free—they are not fussy and are easy to care for. When problems occur, it is usually because the tree has been planted in less-than-ideal circumstances.

Yellowing Leaves

In the case of river birch, yellowing leaves are usually a symptom of iron chlorosis, a condition in which too alkaline soil prevents the tree from absorbing nutrients properly. Soil amendments or fertilizing with an acidifying fertilizer may rectify this.

Leaves Are Puckered, Distorted

This is often a symptom of an aphid attack. River birch is particularly prone to spiny witch hazel gall aphids, but they usually don’t require any treatment, as natural predators soon arrive to handle them.

Large Tree Is Dying Back

If you notice a large, formerly healthy river birch begin to decline when no environmental changes are evident. In that case, you may be witnessing natural behavior—the tree may be reaching the end of its life expectancy. These are not long-lived trees, and it may be time to remove your tree and replace it with another.

Leaves Drop

Fungal leaf spot disease occasionally causes a river birch to drop its leaves—a problem that may occur in particularly wet springs. But this is not a fatal problem; the tree will quickly recover.