River Birch

Betula nigra

branch of a river birch with cones
“Betula nigra” by Plant Image Library, via Flickr. CC BY-SA 2.0
tall, branching river birch with thick, green leaves
“Betula nigra” by Plant Image Library, via Flickr. CC BY-SA 2.0.

Ecological Benefits: attract insect pollinators, supports small mammals and songbirds

Season of Interest: fall-winter

Best Areas for Planting: mid- to high moisture, full sun; acid, well-drained soil

Natural Habitat: can be found along rivers and streams

Most of the species information is from The Virginia Native Plant Society website, which offers free, extensive pdfs for each region of Virginia, highlighting about 100 native species (there are many more!) and helpful additional information for planning personal projects. If you aren’t from Virginia, you can search for similar resources in your state! To explore other resources and advice, navigate to the guidance page.

Visit the homepage to explore other sites and learn more about native plants.