River Birch Live Seedlings – 16–30 Inches Tall

Bring beautiful bark, bright fall color, and native wildlife value to your landscape with River Birch (Betula nigra). This fast-growing North American native is admired for its cinnamon-brown peeling bark, distinctive ragged trunk texture, and brilliant yellow autumn foliage.

River Birch is a versatile landscape tree that works well as a shade tree, ornamental specimen, or planting for stream banks and erosion control.

Plant Highlights

• Botanical name: Betula nigra

• Plant size: 16–30 inch seedlings

• Hardiness: USDA Zones 4–9

• Mature height: Approximately 40–60 feet

• Growth rate: Fast, approximately 3–6 feet per year under suitable conditions

• Light: Full sun to partial sun

• Foliage: Bright yellow fall color

• Bark: Cinnamon-brown, peeling bark

• Growing medium: Grown in soilless mix

Distinctive Bark and Fall Color

River Birch stands out throughout the year. Its cinnamon-brown bark peels away in layers, creating an attractive, rugged appearance on the trunk and branches. In autumn, its green summer foliage turns a cheerful bright yellow.

Growing Conditions

River Birch naturally grows along rivers and streams, making it especially well suited to moist locations. It can also grow successfully in drier sites when watered during dry periods.

• Prefers moist, well-drained soil.

• Adapts to acidic, sandy, and rocky soils.

• Grows in full sun to partial sun.

• Tolerates heat, flooding, wind, and minor drought.

• Water during dry periods, especially while young.

River Birch is commonly planted as an ornamental tree throughout USDA Zones 4–9 and is noted for having greater resistance to Bronze Birch Borer than many other birch species.

Landscape and Wildlife Benefits

Use River Birch as a shade tree, ornamental specimen, or planting along streams and banks to help with erosion control.

Its abundant seeds ripen in late spring and provide food for grouse, turkeys, and small birds. Deer and elk also browse its foliage.

Planting Instructions

1. Dig a planting hole wider than the root system, but no deeper than the roots. The seller recommends a hole approximately the size of a 3-gallon container.

2. Mix approximately 20% compost into the soil.

3. Position the tree and backfill the hole.

4. Water thoroughly to settle soil around the roots.

5. In hot, dry climates, mix 1–2 teaspoons of water gel into the planting-hole soil, following the product directions.

Water gel can help retain moisture during establishment. The seller notes that it may last 3–5 years.

For deer protection, spray new growth with Plantskydd® deer repellent. SoilMoist water gel and Plantskydd are also available in our shop.

Pruning note: Avoid pruning in winter or spring when sap is running, as River Birch can bleed from pruning cuts.

Seasonal Shipping

Seedlings ship with leaves during spring and summer. In fall and winter, they ship dormant without leaves.

Plants are grown in soilless mix and inspected for quality before shipment. If your plant arrives damaged, please contact us promptly and include photos of the package and plant so we can help.

Shipping Information

Free shipping is available to most locations. Shipments to Alaska, Hawaii, APO addresses, U.S. territories, and locations considered remote may require an additional freight surcharge.

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