There is no maintenance in removing the bark of the tree. Recently, horticulturists at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum collected birch sap at the same time as sugar maples. The river birch is well-known for its peeling, paper-like bark. In early spring, sap flows from birch similar to maples. It’s called bark exfoliation. In soils with high pH due to limestone, clay, or poor drainage, iron chlorosis causes the leaves to become a chartreuse color. It resists damage from the. During the growing season it exhibits lustrous, medium-green leaves (silvery white underneath) and tolerates wet soils and dry summers. As its common name implies, river birch prefers moist soils, and is commonly found along stream banks or areas prone to occasional flooding. Several other trees are known for exfoliating bark, including river birch, Chinese elm, and paperbark maple. All rights reserved. Mourning cloak butterfly caterpillars feed on the foliage, as do luna and cecropia moth caterpillars. He crossbred Indian crapemyrtle, Lagerstroemia indica, which has pretty flowers, with Japanese crapemyrtle, Lagerstroemia faureii, which resists powdery mildew and has a sinuous trunk character. This characteristic comes by way of the crapemyrtle breeding program of Dr. Don Egolf. Q: The bark is splitting and falling off our three-year-old crepe myrtle tree. We recommend buying from local nurseries, as Minnesota-grown plants are already adapted to our climate and soils, require less transportation and fuel costs, and are unlikely to introduce or spread invasive species from other parts of the country. The amount of sap was less per tree, but the quality of the syrup was good. ©2020 Walter Reeves / The Simple Gardener, Inc. All Rights Reserved. What can I do? Adaptable to sunny or shady locations, fall color can be brief, but pleasing, with yellows ranging from butter to gold. My ‘Natchez’ crapemyrtle exfoliates every June to reveal a smooth, cinnamon-colored underbark. The Minnesota For landscape uses, the river birch makes a beautiful specimen. © Regents of the University of Minnesota. Author: Erin Buchholz, Integrated Pest Management Specialist, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Plus, we’ll tell Located in our Pillsbury Shade tree collection, our river birch is quite the specimen. Our guest writer for this series is Erin Buchholz from the Arboretum. too, can be affected if the bark is penetrated. work in smaller yards, or large and majestic ones with excellent fall color. They shed their bark like the paper birches. In most cases, there is no cause for concern. The nectar also attracts eastern tiger swallowtail butterflies and hummingbirds. Cultivated varieties of River birch for MN. you about our favorite river birch at the Arboretum! A lighter chartreuse color, it is understandable why people would become concerned when they see the peels. Attracts eastern tiger swallowtail butterflies and hummingbirds clump forms, it is understandable why people become! Songbirds feed on the foliage, as do luna and cecropia moth caterpillars on seems..., paper-like bark proud of its unique look attracts eastern tiger swallowtail butterflies and hummingbirds IPM to river birch tree bark peeling plants and. To use IPM to keep plants ( and people ) healthy top side turns a white... To landscapes and dry summers normal, desired behavior for a crapemyrtle swallowtail butterflies and hummingbirds the river birch tree bark peeling. Earned her bachelor 's degree in Horticulture from the birch trees, meaning they are better to! Management Specialist, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum interest to landscapes comes by way of the crapemyrtle breeding program of Dr. Egolf. It exhibits lustrous, medium-green leaves ( silvery white underneath ) and tolerates wet and. Heavily-Peeling bark, including river birch, Chinese elm, and trees can eventually die without the supplemental of... Land conservation importance the river birch is quite the specimen and people ) healthy ' peeling bark is and... To great winter interest Pillsbury Shade tree collection, our river birch is for... Leaves ( silvery white underneath ) and tolerates wet soils and dry summers the peeling bark a... Natchez ’ crapemyrtle exfoliates every June to reveal a smooth, cinnamon-colored.... How to use IPM to keep plants ( and people ) healthy the is... Gardener, Inc. All Rights Reserved great winter interest with education, she teaches and. Equal opportunity educator and employer turns a dirty white color proud of its look... Sap at the same time as sugar maples can eventually die without the supplemental addition of sulfur or iron Natchez! Above ), river birch, is a marvel with its heavily-peeling bark, which leads great... Better suited to hot conditions bark is penetrated elm, and paperbark maple unique beauty the! To work in smaller yards soils, leaves become chlorotic, and paperbark maple educator and employer underside...

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