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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

river birch

Instead the RHS is considering trees that enjoy hotter and wetter weather, like the American river birch or crepe myrtle, or plants with deeper roots to tolerate drought like yarrow or bird’s foot.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026

Fair Bluff is small-town idyllic, nestled among fields of corn and tobacco near the South Carolina border, shielded from the Lumber River by a narrow bank of tupelo gum, river birch and bald cypress trees.

From New York Times ● Sep. 2, 2021

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

"That was about a river birch in our backyard that was dead, even though for two years we were hoping it would come back," Rizzo says with a chuckle.

From Chicago Tribune ● Apr. 21, 2011

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

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