River Birch is a deciduous tree with attractive, buff-colored peeling bark and small, finely toothed leaves. It grows 30 to 40 feet tall and 20 to 30 feet wide. Available as a single or multi-stemmed tree. Leaves are green in the summer, with strong yellow fall color. Buff to brown catkins hang in little clusters during the summer months, persisting into winter. Tolerates moist soils, so place it near the lawn where it will benefit from the supplemental water without injury.
Grow in sun to part shade, in well drained soil. Prefers soils with some organic matter. It resists bronze birch borer and will tolerate wetter soils than the B. pendula. Not a tree for a dry landscape, but with good soil and placement, it could be a nice addition to a moderately watered landscape.