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| COMMON NAME River Birch (Dura Heat), Black Birch, Water Birch |
| BOTANICAL NAME Betula nigra |
| HEIGHT 40′ |
| WIDTH 25′ |
| MONOECIOUS |
| DECIDUOUS |
| LIFESPAN 30 years to 150 years |
| PERENNIAL |
| COLD TOLERANCE 10° F |
| SOIL TYPE Moist to wet and well drained. Prefers acidic soil with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5. |
| WATERING REQUIREMENTS Water after planting in ground, and water every day for 2 weeks. Week 3 and week 4, water deeply twice a week. Week 5, water deeply at least once a week until it has been 3 months. From then on, water regularly once per week for 1 to 3 years. Does not require watering if planted in a consistently moist area. Supplement with water during droughts and the hot, dry months to keep your plant lush and thriving. Reduce watering in the Winter when growth slows. |
| DROUGHT TOLERANCE No |
| SALT TOLERANCE No |
| LIGHT REQUIREMENTS Full sun to part shade |
| FERTILIZING Sparingly use a general purpose, 10-10-10 once per month from Spring to Summer for faster growth. Alternatively, use a slow-release fertilizer 3 times a year. Halt fertilizing from the Fall to Winter, then begin again in the Spring. Do not allow fertilizer to clump, be sure to disperse evenly. Clumped fertilizer can potentially burn roots, potentially harming or killing a plant. Avoid getting fertilizer on the leaves and trunk. |
| FLOWER Yellow-white catkin, reaching 2″ to 3″. |
| MONTH OF COLOR Spring for flowers; Fall for yellow leaves. |
| FRUIT Small cone consisting of many seeds. Inedible. |
| ALLERGENS, TOXICITY AND ANIMALS Non-toxic to animals. (Dogs, cats, horses, humans.) Birch pollen can trigger allergies, though the pollen is produced for a short time in small amounts. |
| COMMENTS This very fast growing variety does well in Central and North Florida. Heat and drought tolerant, with superior insect and disease resistance. Beautiful peeling pink, red, and tan bark. Fast growing with foliage that is smaller and denser than most other species. Excellent alongside streams and lakes, in addition to wetland areas. Standing water can cause plant suffocation by depriving roots of oxygen and ventilation, so plant on high mounds in areas that are susceptible to water retention. |
| PRICE 30 gallon $200 |