Betula nigra DURA-HEAT

Dura-Heat® River Birch, River Birch

Betula nigra ‘Dura-Heat’ — marketed as Dura-Heat® River Birch — is a heat- and drought-tolerant selection of native river birch chosen for excellent performance in hot, stressful sites. It retains the classic exfoliating bark of river birch while offering improved durability in southern and urban landscapes.

Key features
Width / spread: 30–40 ft
Height: 40–50 ft
Bark: Exfoliating; tan, cinnamon, and salmon tones
Foliage: Glossy medium green; yellow fall color
Form: Upright pyramidal to oval; single-stem or multi-stem
Life cycle: Deciduous tree

Growing conditions
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Soil: Moist to well-drained; tolerant of clay and compacted soils
Water: Moderate; more drought tolerant than typical river birch once established
Hardiness:



Zone Low: 4a



Zone High: 9a



Landscape use
Street and urban plantings
Large residential and commercial landscapes
Rain gardens and low areas
Specimen or grouped plantings

Notes
Selected for heat and drought tolerance compared with standard river birch
Strong resistance to bronze birch borer
Fast growth rate; allow space for mature canopy
Bark interest improves with age
Prune only during dormancy if needed

Plant type

Deciduous Tree

Height

50'

Width

25'

Hardiness zones

4–7

Sunlight

Full Sun

Growth rate

Fast

Bloom time

Spring

Flower color

Brown, Yellow

Leaf color

Green

Fall color

Yellow

Soil

Clay

Landscape use

Accent Plant, Specimen

Shape

Pyramidal

Bark

Exfoliating

Fruit

Yes

Deer resistant

Yes

Drought tolerant

No