Birch, River (Betula nigra)

(Betula nigra) As the name implies, River Birch trees grow naturally in river banks and wet areas. It is similar to Paper Birch in shape and form but its bark has a unique shaggy look to it.   It grows 40-70 feet tall with a spread of 40-60 feet and is considered a medium to fast growing tree. It grows well in acidic, loamy, sandy, and moist soils in full sun to partial shade.  River Birch can be single or multi-stemmed trees depending on if they are pruned or not.