Aprils’s Native Maryland Plant
Betula nigra
(BET-yoo-luh NY-gruh)
Common Name: River Birch
The 2020 State of the Bay report¹ rated the Chesapeake Bay a 32 (D+), down one point from the last report in 2018. Many factors played a role in contributing to this grade, but stormwater pollution continues to be a significant one.
Bay-Wise² teaches us that most Marylanders live within ½ mile of a storm drain – the basic channel that sends all runoff to the Bay or its tributaries. For homeowners wanting to do their part to protect this irreplaceable natural and national treasure, planting trees - especially canopy trees - on their property is an excellent way to contribute. Trees that create a dense canopy will intercept and slow down rain, reducing the erosion that carries sediment, nitrogen (from fertilizer), and other chemicals into our waterways. The shade they produce cools adjacent impervious surfaces, thereby reducing the temperature of any eventual runoff – this is particularly important if we are to protect the Bay’s fish species.
For those of us who have perpetually wet areas in our landscapes, one of the best choices for a tree may be a Betula nigra – an adaptable tree that also happens to be a keystone species³.
River birch prefer wet sites, are fast growers, and thrive in full sun to part shade. They are naturally found in riverbanks where they tolerate extended periods of flood conditions. The dry riverbed in my yard is flanked by river birch that have four-season interest and play a major role in supporting the food web necessary for birds to breed and attracting them to my yard.
For those of us working on community projects, River birch are excellent choices for bioretention or raingardens where they readily soak up water. Pruning them, if desired, is best done in late summer or fall when the plant enters its dormant season and sap is not flowing.
Restoring the Bay requires a team effort. Why not be a key player and plant a hard-working keystone species? Oh, I almost forgot to mention, Betula nigra, is also deer-resistant – even more reason to plant one!
¹ -https://www.cbf.org/about-the-bay/state-of-the-bay-report/index.html
² – https://extension.umd.edu/baywise
³ - A genera that ‘form the backbone of local ecosystems’ – Doug Tallamy, Nature’s Best Hope
~ Alison Milligan – Mstr. Gardener/Mstr. Naturalist/Mstr. Watershed Steward
Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional (CBLP)
