Plant Details

Betula nigra

River birch, Black birch, Red birch, Water birch

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Common names

26 names · 21 languages
EnglishYour language
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Water birch
Other languages (20)
Dutch
  • Rode berk[2]
  • Zwarte berk
French
  • Bouleau noir[2]
Cherokee
  • ᎦᏁᏗᏍᎩ[2]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • bříza černá[2]
Estonian
Finnish
  • mustakoivu[2]
German
  • Fluss-Birke[2]
  • Schwarz-Birke[2]
Hungarian
  • Fekete nyír[2]
Italian
  • betulla nera[2]
Japanese
  • リバーバーチ[2]
Lithuanian
  • Juodasis beržas[2]
Mvskoke
  • akcelvlaskv[2]
Polish
  • Brzoza nadrzeczna[2]
Portuguese
  • Vidoeiro-ribeirinho[2]
Romani
  • Lin brezâ[2]
Russian
  • Берёза чёрная[2]
Slovak
  • breza čierna[2]
Spanish
  • Abedul negro[2]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Betula nigra L. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • River birch (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 154459; taxon LPBV.
[2] Betula nigra — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • river birch — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 117429; Betula nigra.
  • black birch — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 117429; Betula nigra.
  • Bouleau noir — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 117429; Betula nigra.
  • Vidoeiro-ribeirinho — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 117429; Betula nigra.
  • 河樺 — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 117429; Betula nigra.
  • Берёза чёрная — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 117429; Betula nigra.
  • must kask — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 117429; Betula nigra.
  • bříza černá — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 117429; Betula nigra.
  • Brzoza nadrzeczna — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 117429; Betula nigra.
  • 河桦 — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 117429; Betula nigra.
  • Rode berk — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 117429; Betula nigra.
  • リバーバーチ — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 117429; Betula nigra.
  • Juodasis beržas — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 117429; Betula nigra.
  • ᎦᏁᏗᏍᎩ — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 117429; Betula nigra.
  • Fekete nyír — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 117429; Betula nigra.
  • betulla nera — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 117429; Betula nigra.
  • Lin brezâ — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 117429; Betula nigra.
  • Abedul negro — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 117429; Betula nigra.
  • mustakoivu — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 117429; Betula nigra.
  • breza čierna — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 117429; Betula nigra.
  • akcelvlaskv — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 117429; Betula nigra.
  • Schwarz-Birke — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 117429; Betula nigra.
  • Fluss-Birke — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 117429; Betula nigra.

General information

Scientific name: Betula nigra
Accepted name (Kew): Betula nigra L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Betulaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Betula (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: River birch, Black birch, Red birch, Water birch
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Tree
Catalogue size class: Large
Height: 9.14–21.34 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 12.19–18.29 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Fast
Sources [3]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Multi-trunked, Open, Pyramidal

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist, Occasionally Dry, Occasionally Wet

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [3]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Sap
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Pioneer species, Wood

Description

Birch sap can be consumed both raw and cooked, and has a sweet flavor. It is collected in early spring, before the tree's leaves begin to grow. To obtain the sap, a hole approximately 6 mm wide and 4 cm deep is drilled into the trunk. The sap flows best on warm, sunny days after a period of severe frost. The sap can be drunk pure as a refreshing beverage, or it can be concentrated into syrup or sugar. It can even be fermented to make birch beer or vinegar. An old English recipe for brewing birch beer involves mixing birch sap with honey, boiling it with cloves and lime peel, and adding beer for fermentation. The resulting beer is described as mild and safe to consume, increases appetite, and is best drunk before meals.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/10
Harvest ends: 31/03

Crown

Crown shape: Narrow pyramidal
Crown density: Dense crown

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 962990; name ID 21065; Betula L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 963384; name ID 21527; Betula nigra L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Betula nigra

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 4999562, ID LPBV: Betula nigra L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Betula nigra — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 70 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 40 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .