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Small River Birch?

10 years ago

Does anyone know if there are dwarf River Birch cultivars available? I would love to have one for its wildlife value, but I don't have the room for a tree. Or are there shrub birches that would do well in my Virginia yard? z7a and probably heading towards z8.

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Comments (4)

agardenstateof_mind
10 years ago
If you don't mind mail order, Rare Find Nursery in NJ has two smaller varieties. A good source for rhodies, azaleas, native and unusual plants, really know their stuff, and (need I say it?) one of my favorite nurseries. (No, I don't work there and don't own stock in the company ;-)
ken_mce
10 years ago
Be advised, the roots from those things go everywhere.
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There's no mistaking the leaves of river birch (Betula nigra) for paper birch (B. papyrifera). Bear in mind that paper bich bark is reddish in young trees, and then goes into white.
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I simply love the overall look of 'Heritage' River Birch trees. The 'Dura Heats' are reported to withstand planting areas that drain better and that may encounter more drying out in the hottest parts of summer, when rains are less apt to occur. Personally though, the 'Dura Heat' birches seem to display a little more yellow than I would prefer to see in a birch tree's bark. The leaves also do not seem to be as nicely shaped or colored as the Heritage Birch tree's leaves. Bottom line; I guess whichever birch cultivar you plant needs to the cultivar that is more compatable with the soil conditons and climate that the tree will encounter in its intended planting site. Still personally I prefer the Heritage Birch tree cultivar over most others. There are even prettier cultivars than Heritage Birch, but any those others that happen to tolerate my USDA zone area seem to be more prone to Birch borers or even other pests, which feed off the leaves of such birch trees.
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Only prune dead, broken or damaged branches on a newly planted tree. That new tree needs every leaf it can muster to photosynthesize to make food for it's roots. And making roots will be the main project that tree will be doing for this season and beginning of the next. You'll get more robust growth next season by doing that. Then, after the tree is established in a couple of season or so, you can begin pruning. Even then you should only remove 25% of the total crown each season.
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"...ps: why cant you just heal it in ... and forget about it .... repot in early spring if you wish ..." Because I never dig a hole unless I absolutely have to lol!! Okay Ken, thanks, I think you're right. I'll treat it as I did all those perennials. By the way, I had that many potted plants for several reasons. My gardens were new and I bought more than I could plant because beds weren't planned or ready yet; I have waaaayyyy too much hard surface in my yard (90 foot driveway that goes along the house and into the back yard, ending in a big square of asphalt in front of the garage, which abuts a large brick patio) so I had lots of potted plants to break up and soften all the asphalt; I went to a couple of swaps a year and came home with too many "rescue plants", taken home at the end when those poor plants still didn't have a home; and I often have a hard time deciding where to plant something, so at the end of the season it needs to go into the garage until I can finally decide (kinda like this river birch haha!) :) Dee
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agardenstateof_mind
10 years ago
They are shallow-rooted trees, and, as their name implies, they do like water, but mine is still playing nicely with its neighbors in the garden. A word to the wise, however, is never a bad idea.

I am currently taking a course on trees & shrubs for our region, and some to avoid. The instructor has cautioned us that the clump river birches are bound to become a problem years down the road, as they are meant to be single-trunk trees. The multiple trunks will compete with each other and eventually some will fail ... and fall. Well, where was he when I was picking out my beloved 'Heritage'? There is a huge, multi-trunk one about a mile from my home, so if my tree fails, I don't think it will be in my lifetime. Gorgeous bark.
momliz
Original Author
10 years ago
hmmm good to know about multiple trunks - logical when you think about it. I have found two small birches - Duraheat and Fox Valley. Now to decide between the two.

Thanks for your help!

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