Betula nigra 'Heritage'

'Heritage' River Birch

'Heritage' is a vigorous, fast-growing tree with layers of cinnamon, salmon and brown bark peeling back in big sheets to reveal creamy white inner bark. It can be grown as either a single trunk or multi-stemmed tree and is especially effective when multiple trees are placed together in a grove. Chickadees, song and white-throated sparrows, wild turkey, pine siskins, finches and other birds love the seed. Trees also provide great cover and nesting sites. Good yellow fall color and excellent disease and pest resistance.

Benefits:

• Tolerates really wet soil but adapts to drier ground, too


• 'Heritage' is very fast growing and has outstanding, multi-colored bark for year round interest


• Larval food source for Mourning cloaks, Canadian tiger swallowtails and dreamy duskywing butterflies


• Birds and other mammals feed on seed in the winter


• Provides cover and nest sites for all kinds of birds


• Extremely resistant to bronze birch borer and leaf spot diseases

Homeowner Growing and Maintenance Tips

Easy to grow in full sun to part shade.

Prefers moist, acidic soil with good drainage but grows well in drier soil.

Adapts to clay soil and will tolerate standing water for short periods.

Avoid pruning in spring when the sap is running.

Height 35-40 Feet

Spread 30-35 Feet

Native Range Riverbanks and floodplains often subject to periodic flooding; Massachusetts to New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois and Minnesota south to eastern Texas and northern Florida.

Native Trivia Dating back to the 1800s, birch beer is a carbonated drink (usually nonalcoholic) flavored with an extract from birch bark and twigs. It's sweet and tastes similar to root beer. Native Americans used the boiled sap as a sweetener similar to maple syrup, and the inner bark as a survival food.

USDA Hardiness Zone 4-9

"This is a gold mine for birds, butterflies & other critters that take shelter in and feed here."

Characteristics & Attributes

Plan Sub Group • Deciduous Trees	Exposure • Filtered Shade • Sun	Soil • Acidic • Wide soil tolerance	Soil Moisture Preference • Average • Wet • Moist
Attracts Wildlife • Butterflies • Songbirds • Mammals	Bloom Time • Early Spring	Habitat Collection • Wet Sun • Songbird • Butterfly	Native Habitat • Riparian, wetland
Foliage Color • Green