Betula nigra 'Heritage' Tree

This spectacular River Birch is, in our opinion, a tree rivalled in its suitability for wet sites only by Alders and Willows. The shaggy, ruffled bark displays an array of colours and makes for brilliant year round interest. Creamy-grey and cinnamon brown base tones are highlighted with hints of pinky-orange, purple and gold.

Betula nigra 'Heritage' also has pretty, diamond shaped green leaves that turn golden in autumn. The statuesque form will look stunning planted in a group or individually as a specimen tree. In its single stem form, 'Heritage' a height and spread of 8 x 4 metres can be expected in 20 years.

Tolerant of all soil types, Betula nigra 'Heritage' copes with clay, chalk and wet conditions, plus once established it will also thrive in less moist conditions. This beautiful River Birch tree would make a wonderfully tactile addition to any garden all year round.

AKA River birch, Red birch, Black birch, Betula nigra 'Cully'

• Common name: River Birch
• Height and spread in 20 years: 8 x 4 metres
• Seasons of interest: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter
• Bark: Peeling, multi-coloured bark
• Foliage: Green deciduous foliage, turns golden in autumn
• Soil: Particularly good in wet sites including clay, loam or chalk

Planting Advice for Betula nigra Heritage Trees

Our pot grown River Birch trees can be planted at any time of the year. Start by removing weeds and grass within a metre of your desired planting hole. Dig a square hole as deep as your root mass and approximately 2x as wide. To help the tree establish more effectively, sprinkle root grow in the hole.

Remove the pot, gently loosen the roots and place into the planting hole. Mix 50% of the original soil with 50% compost, fill in the hole and firm around gently. Avoid banking the soil up around the collar of the tree.

We recommend planting River Birch trees with a stake and tie kit, unless it's a multi stem form. For our medium staking kits, insert the stake into the ground at an angle to avoid penetrating the rootmass. Finish by watering generously around the base.

Aftercare of Betula nigra Heritage Trees

River Birch require a good watering regime for a couple of years to establish. Water well and regularly through spring and summer, increasing in hot or dry weather. If planting in autumn, you may only need to water a little. Unlike many species, Birch prefer wet soil than dry. Irrigation kits make it easier.

Once planted, keep the area free of competing weeds and grass for the first couple of growing seasons. If your area is prone to rabbits, use a rabbit guard. To keep the Birch bark looking bright, you can wash it using water and a sponge.

Pruning Betula nigra Heritage Trees

Established River Birch trees do not require pruning and do not take well to hard pruning as increased light levels increases soil temperature and decreases moisture levels. Simply remove the lateral shoots to maintain a clear trunk and prune any diseased or damaged branches. Pruning should be carried out in late summer to mid-winter. Birch trees bleed heavily at all other times of the year, especially late winter.

Delivery Costs

*Free delivery promotion excludes mature trees, extra large kits and delivery to Highlands or Islands. Discount applies at checkout.

Delivery Times

Next Day Despatch
We will always try to get your plants to you as quickly as possible.  For many of our trees and plants, if you order today we will despatch your order within 24 hours.  We are constantly adding to our range of next day plants, and we do not add a surcharge for this service. Click here to see our next day delivery plants.

Standard Delivery
We have one of the widest range of trees in the UK, and for those plants which we cannot despatch next day we will normally despatch within 4 weeks. The despatch time for different products will be confirmed when products are added to your shopping basket

Pre-orders
We will only want to deliver your orders when they are perfect for planting! Depending on the season and how well the plants are growing, we will give our best estimates of the despatch dates for pre-orders.  These dates may vary and by species and while we will always try to deliver within these timeframes if the expected despatch does change then we will notify you by email.

Special Orders
Orders containing pleached or mature trees (trees over 2.5m in height) are delivered within 3 weeks. They require specialist delivery and are grouped geographically. Any customers ordering pleached or mature trees will be contacted and notified of their delivery date.

If your trees are required by a specific date, please let us know as soon as possible; while we can’t offer any guarantees we will always do our best to accommodate you. You can leave instructions in the notes field on the Delivery Page of the Checkout or send us an email at [email protected].

Please note that orders are shipped once all the trees in the order are ready.

Collections
Collections are by appointment only at our West Yorkshire-based nursery. If you would like to place an order for collection, please get in touch before placing your order. You will not be charged a delivery cost for a collection and any delivery cost that has been applied will be refunded.

The product table at the bottom of the page gives the forms and sizes available for this variety. Please note, photos are a guideline as all plants are unique. *Pot sizes may vary. Below are definitions of terms:

Supplied Size: Height measured from the top of the pot.

Single Stem tree: Classic tree with one trunk, pruned for a beautiful, natural shape.

Top grafted tree: A height next to this form refers to the length of clear stem, which will not grow taller. Only the head of branches will develop. Ideal for small spaces.

Feathered tree: Branches from the bottom of the trunk all the way up. These branches can be removed if a clear stem is required.

Multi Stem tree: Two or more stems arising from or near ground level, growing from one root system.

Bush: A plant with many stems low down, rather than one clear stem.

Clump: Several plants in one pot that give the appearance of a bushy multi stem tree.

Climber: Naturally climbing plant. Usually delivered running up a cane, ready to position in the garden.

Standard Tree: A more mature tree with an upright clear stem of approximately 1.8m-2.0m (measured from the soil to the lowest branches of the crown). Standards are available in different forms relating to their girth size (circumference of the stem measured 1m above soil level), not height.