Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States
Southern Europe, Mediterranean, Northern Africa
Types
-
Quercus nigra, Quercus laurifolia
Habitat
bottomlands, Depression on prairies, ditches, Floodplains, Riverbanks, stream banks, Swamps
-
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-9
7-9
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
7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Oval or Rounded
Flower Color
Yellow, Brown
Light Green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Black
Brown, Chocolate, Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Light Green, Bronze
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Gray Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Yellow, Light Yellow, Tan
Gray Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Gray Green, Dark Green
Leaf Shape
Oval with a pointed tip and fine teeth along their edges
Oblong or Lanceolate
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Average
Bloom Time
Spring
Early Spring, Spring
Tolerances
Wet Site, Pollution, Soil Compaction
Pollution
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Grafting, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Requirements
Requires a lot of watering, Requires regular watering
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Requires regular watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
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
fertilize in fall, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Red blotch, Sawfly Larvae
Aphids, Moth
Plant Tolerance
Pollution, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
Pollution, Shade areas
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Foliage Texture
Medium
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Allergy
Asthma
sneezing, Vomiting, Watery eyes
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Cottage Garden
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin, Skin Problems
Environmental Uses
Erosion control, Wildlife
Nesting sites for birds, Shadow Tree
Medicinal Uses
-
Digestive, Skin irritation
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
Bark, Fruits, Wood
Other Uses
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Charcoal, Used as firewood, Used for its medicinal properties, Wood is used fore making tools
Used As Indoor Plant
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees
Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Botanical Name
BETULA nigra
QUERCUS laurifolia
Common Name
River Birch
Darlington Oak, Diamond-leaf Oak, Laurel Oak, Laurel-leaf Oak, Swamp Laurel Oak, Water Oak
In Hindi
River Birch
Quercus
In German
Fluss Birch
Quercus
In French
Birch river
Quercus
In Spanish
river Birch
Quercus
In Greek
ποταμός Birch
Quercus
In Portuguese
river Birch
Quercus
In Polish
Rzeka Birch
Quercus
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Family
Betulaceae
Fagaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Importance of River Birch and Water Oak
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of River Birch and Water Oak. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare River Birch and Water Oak 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 Water Oak is Digestive and Skin irritation. River Birch has beauty benefits as follows: while Water Oak has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of River Birch vs Water Oak
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 Water Oak 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 Water Oak have sneezing, Vomiting and Watery eyes respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. River Birch has no showy fruits and Water Oak has showy fruits. Also River Birch is not flowering and Water Oak is not flowering . You can compare River Birch and Water Oak facts and facts of other plants too.