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

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

Trees and plants were brought in: bald cypress, black tupelo, duck potato, river birch, shadbush, sweetbay magnolia and winterberry, among others.

From New York Times • Oct. 3, 2012

"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