FIELD ID CHARACTERISTICS:
Peeling bark and triangular leaves distinctive. Younger trees have rusty-colored bark, while older bark is less colorful and darker.
Description: Deciduous, medium-sized tree up to 25 m, with curly, peeling, papery bark.
Leaves: Alternate, doubly serrated, triangular or ovate leaves, 4 to 8 cm long. Leaves contain 7 to 9 straight veins on each side of leaf. Undersides lighter.
Flowers/Fruit: Male flowers drooping catkins and female flowers in a cone-like catkin. Fruits oblong samaras. Flowers March/April; fruits May/June.
Habit and Range: Floodplains, river and stream banks in moist soil. Found statewide, but chiefly Piedmont and Coastal Plain. Planted as an ornamental tree.
COMMON CONFUSIONS:
The doubly serrated leaves of Betula nigra (river birch) are similar to those of Carpinus caroliniana (ironwood) and Ulmus americana (American elm), but the bark of Betula nigra is distinctive. Leaves of Ulmus americana have asymmetric leaf bases, unlike those of Betula nigra.
Click here to view Carpinus caroliniana.
Click here to view Ulmus americana.
Link to side-by-side comparisons page
