Trees of Alabama and the Southeast Home Page

Leaves are simple, alternate, deciduous, doubly serrate and two-ranked. Leaves are triangular in shape with a wedge-shaped base and a hairy underside.   Twigs are zigzag, hairy and with lenticels and triangular leaf scars.  Bark is orange-pink-brown and scaly or may peel.   Fruit is a nutlet enclosed in a papery cone.  River birch is found along rivers and streams in the east and central U.S. and is intolerant of shade.  The wood is red-brown and used for pulp and light furniture.  This tree is a popular ornamental and cultivars are available for landscaping.

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All text and photographs are intended for educational purposes only and are not for commercial use in any form.  All photographs are copyrighted by the named photographer(s), text copyright by Lisa Samuelson. © 2005, all rights reserved. Photographs by Mike Hogan.