river birch

American  

noun

1. a tree, Betula nigra, of the eastern U.S., having papery, reddish-brown bark that peels away.

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Etymology

Origin of river birch

First recorded in 1850–55

Example Sentences

Here grow maple, oak, hickory, cottonwood, sycamore, river birch, hackberry, fronds bowed under climbing English ivy, with winter creeper spreading underfoot.

From New York Times • Nov. 9, 2023

In such a garden, you could position ostrich ferns in and around other bog lovers: winterberry, Yaupon holly or river birch, or the herbaceous hardy hibiscuses, swamp lobelias or ligularias.

From Washington Post • Jul. 8, 2015

Pine grosbeak typically feed on the seed cones of conifer trees, but may also utilize alders, river birch and Douglas fir.

From Washington Times • Jan. 31, 2015

One graduate, Devorah Gross, 56, worked eight-hour shifts for six weeks this summer planting sumac, river birch, roses for the bees, juniper berries for the birds.

From New York Times • Jan. 5, 2013

Grass is even better than pine needles, and tomorrow I am going to try the outside bark of the river birch.

From "My Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George