Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States
Northern Europe, Russia/Siberia
Types
-
Young's weeping birch, Ornäs Birch
Habitat
bottomlands, Depression on prairies, ditches, Floodplains, Riverbanks, stream banks, Swamps
Sunny Edge, Woodland Garden Canopy
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-9
2-7
Sunset Zone
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Pyramidal
Flower Color
Yellow, Brown
Green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Yellow, Light Yellow, Tan
Light Yellow, Yellow green
Leaf Shape
Oval with a pointed tip and fine teeth along their edges
Double-toothed, serrated
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Average
Tolerances
Wet Site, Pollution, Soil Compaction
Wet Site, Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Requirements
Requires a lot of watering, Requires regular watering
Water more in summer
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune in the late winter or spring, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Shape and thin as needed
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, No need to fertilize every year
General purpose granulated 30-10-10 fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Red blotch, Sawfly Larvae
Anthracnose, Birch Leafminer, Bronze Birch Borer, Slime Flux
Plant Tolerance
Pollution, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
Drought
Flower Petal Number
-
Single
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Attracts
-
Butterflies, Insects, Moths
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Used in parkland
Environmental Uses
Erosion control, Wildlife
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
-
anti-inflammatory, Antirheumatic, Antiseptic, Astringent, Diaphoretic, Diuretic
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
Flowers, Inner Bark, Leaves, Sap
Other Uses
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Used as a thickener in soups, Used as essential oil, used for making charcoal, Used in making tea
Used As Indoor Plant
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees
Feature Plant, Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Botanical Name
BETULA nigra
BETULA pendula
Common Name
River Birch
Common Birch, European White Birch, Silver Birch
In Hindi
River Birch
Silver Birch
In German
Fluss Birch
Weißbirke
In French
Birch river
Silver Birch
In Spanish
river Birch
Abedul de plata
In Greek
ποταμός Birch
Silver Birch
In Portuguese
river Birch
Silver Birch
In Polish
Rzeka Birch
Silver Birch
In Latin
Betula
Argentum Birch
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Family
Betulaceae
Betulaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Importance of River Birch and Silver Birch
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of River Birch and Silver Birch. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare River Birch and Silver Birch as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of River Birch is whereas of Silver Birch is anti-inflammatory, Antirheumatic, Antiseptic, Astringent, Diaphoretic and Diuretic. River Birch has beauty benefits as follows: while Silver Birch has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of River Birch vs Silver Birch
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of River Birch vs Silver Birch and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of River Birch are Asthma whereas of Silver Birch have Pollen respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. River Birch has no showy fruits and Silver Birch has no showy fruits. Also River Birch is not flowering and Silver Birch is not flowering . You can compare River Birch and Silver Birch facts and facts of other plants too.