River Birch Betula nigra 'City Slicker'

13 years ago

does anyone grow this? I know that the cultivar is so new that no one has mature trees but I'm wondering if anyone has one old enough to have bark peel yet. If so, how white is it?

It's a borer resistant native which is supposed to have white bark instead of the species cream color. Being a displaced Yankee I am dying for some white bark on my birches. Mine have some showing and so far it's quite white. I'm hoping it continues. Kinsey Farms & Plant Nursery Gainesville has them. They always have outstanding plants & prices, by the way.

Here is a photo of what it's supposed to look like but I don't trust it isn't colorized.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:327776}}

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Comments (5)

karyls
Original Author
13 years ago
I'm going to knock this down and ask over in the tree forums. Sorry - should have done that in the first place.
Iris GW
13 years ago
Well, there's no reason you can't ask in more than one place - once in a regional forum and again in the tree forum!

Let us know if you find one. I've not heard of it, but then I haven't been looking either!
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karyls
Original Author
13 years ago
I did buy two 'city slickers' and a species river birch from Kinsey Farms. My property does (did) not have a single birch on it so in my semi-neurotic quest for bio-diversity I had to plant native birch. I'm just very excited about the new cultivar and hope it lives up.

I also picked up (more) brilliantissima chokeberry and (more) winter red winterberry and a live oak. They actually had a nice collection of native plants. It was nice to buy good sized plants and not have to order.

Now if Nearly Natives will just attend the Hall County master gardeners event!
Iris GW
13 years ago
Good choices - I love chokeberry for both the leaves and the berries. I'm just now using winterberry myself and am anxious to see how it does.

Did you ask Nearly Native if they were going to attend? They are so far planning to be a vendor at the GNPS symposium on Feb 19th, so you could see them there.

Here is a link that might be useful: GNPS Symposium 2011
karyls
Original Author
13 years ago
I have not spoken to NN about the hall county event although I plan on calling them about some plants and was going to specifically ask. They are not on the vendor list yet. Spring Expo 2011.

I don't think you can help but love winterberry. Bees love it in spring, the foliage is attractive and the berries stunning. Bluebirds love it! I planted 3 and a year later, 3 more.

I want to attend the GNPS - particularly the "Native Plants and Transportation Projects in Georgia: Constraints and Opportunities" - but may be out of town. Won't know until next week.