Heritage® River Birch

The Heritage® River Birch (Betula nigra ‘Cully’) is a medium-sized ornamental shade tree. It has a great display of fall foliage, turning a bright yellow consistently each year. Bigger, bright green leaves make up its upright, pyramidal, canopy that gets broader in maturity. This tree, however, is prized for its intriguing bark. Its older reddish-brownish bark exfoliates off to reveal the new salmon-white bark beneath, making a great focal point in a winter landscape.

The Heritage® River Birch was discovered by Earl Cully of Jacksonville, Illinois in 1970 in a St. Louis suburb. It was then introduced in 1970. This cultivar can handle low, wet soils but is very versatile and can also withstand drought once established. It has an improved fall color foliage consistency, bigger mature size and leaves, improved leaf scorch resistance and is more versatile than the parent species. It does well in full to partial sun and prefers moist soils but can withstand a range of soil types.