• Height: 40-70 ft
  
• Spread: 40-60 ft
  
• Light: Full sun-Part shade
  
• Soil: Average-Wet
  
• Zone: 4-9
  
• Deer resistance: Low
  
• Deciduous
• Native
• Black Walnut Tolerant

River birch is a nice fast growing native tree that can reach 70 feet tall. The exfoliating bark is attractive year round and it also spots nice yellow fall color. A much better alternative to Paper Birch which is more prone to being damaged by Bronze birch borer as well as less heat tolerant than River Birch.

A good wildlife tree as it is a larval host for Mourning Cloak and Dreamy Duskywing butterflies. (Click here for more plants to attract butterflies) Birds will use River Birch for nesting sites and will also eat the seeds. When found growing along stream banks waterfowl will often use it for nesting as well. It is used for food by mammals including deer and squirrels.

Can be used in landscapes, rain gardens, and in riparian buffer plantings. Tolerates drier soils but is best suited for moist to wet areas as it is naturally found in lowland and along stream banks.