The River Birch is quite different from other birches because of its arching spreading shape. This creates a great canopy tree, so it will work quite well as a single specimen tree on a lawn or next to a stream as part of a planting scheme. As the name suggests it likes to be near water, but it also grows well away from it. The main attraction is the peeling bark – a beautiful creamy brown when the new bark is revealed.
Fruit: Inconspicuous.
Bark: Young stems black (nigra). Older bark cinnamon-brown, peeling in curly strips.
Leaves: Diamond shaped, dull green early in season, later shiny green with velvety hairs.
Autumm colour: Pale yellow.
Ultimate height: 15m.
Uses: Winter interest with the bark, and as a specimen canopy tree in the middle of the lawn.
