Betula nigra Heritage (River Birch)
Betula nigra ‘Heritage’ is a beautiful river birch prized for its incredible peeling bark. Salmon-cream to brownish at first, it exfoliates to reveal a creamy-white inner bark that can almost rival the European white birches. V
Betula nigra 'Heritage' is a beautiful river birch prized for its incredible peeling bark. Salmon-cream to brownish at first, it exfoliates to reveal a creamy-white inner bark that can almost rival the European white birches. Vigorous and fast-growing, this medium-sized deciduous tree has a large, pyramidal, upright habit. The foliage of diamond-shaped, serrated bright green leaves deepens to dark green as the season progresses, before turning pale yellow in fall. It can be grown as either a single trunk or a multi-stemmed tree. Perfect for wet soils, 'Heritage' can tolerate locations with drier soils and is extremely resistant to bronze birch borer and leaf spot diseases.
- Grows up to 40-70 ft. tall (12-21 m) and 40-60 ft. tall (12-18 m).
- A full sun or part shade lover, this plant is easily grown in average, wet soils. Adaptable and heat tolerant, this river birch will grow in a wide range of situations, including semi-aquatic conditions, but performs best in moist, slightly acidic soils. Consider using soaker hoses and bark mulches to keep the root zones cool and moist.
- Perfect as a specimen plant or in borders, along ponds and streams, cottage gardens, and foundation plantings.
- Low maintenance, this plant needs little pruning. If pruning is necessary, prune during the dormant season and avoid pruning in spring when the sap is running.
- May be affected by sawflies, aphids, rust, and leaf spot.
- Propagate by softwood cuttings or grafting
- Native to central and eastern USA
Requirements
Hardiness | 4 – 9 |
---|---|
Heat Zones | 1 – 9 |
Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
Plant Type | Trees |
Plant Family | Betula – Birches |
Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
Season of Interest | Spring (Early,Mid,Late)Summer (Early,Mid,Late)FallWinter |
Height | 40' – 70' (12m – 21m) |
Spread | 40' – 60' (12m – 18m) |
Water Needs | Average |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Moisture Retentive, Poorly Drained, Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Showy |
Tolerance | Clay Soil, Deer, Drought, Wet Soil |
Garden Uses | Beds and Borders, Ponds and Streams, Rain Gardens |
Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden |