Research conducted and descriptions written by Burley Middle School 6th grade students in 2023 with minor editing by RCA staff.
The river birch, also known as the black birch or the water birch, has black bark when matured. Its scientific name is Betula nigra. The river birch has mossy green leaves and grows flowers in the form of catkins that look like corn. The river birch grows in the eastern US and can grow up to 60-80 feet tall with a 40-foot wide canopy at maturity. The river birch typically grows in any type of soil, but loves to grow in humid areas like along streams, swamps, and floodplains. The river birch needs partial or full sun and, as you can guess, the river birch prefers lots of water. The river birch can also put up with moderate flooding and mild droughts.
Although the river birch is not very good to rely on for lumber other than for its beautiful bark, they can help fix highly acidic soil. They also support wildlife like deer and other animals feeding on the foliage, birds eating their plentiful seeds, and hummingbirds feeding on the sap. The peeling bark provides habitat for many invertebrates, while the leaves attract hundreds of butterfly and moth species. The seeds and buds of this tree attract birds and small mammals.
Fun fact: People can use their sap for a tasty drink or it can be boiled down to a syrup to make birch beer or vinegar!