Alphabetical Plant Listing

Betula nigra 'Little King' FOX VALLEY (River Birch)

River Birch 'Little King', River Birch 'Fox Valley'


Compact, Betula nigra 'Little King' or Fox Valley River Birch, is a particularly handsome river birch prized for its attractive peeling bark. Pale salmon and reddish-brown at first, the bark exfoliates to reveal lighter inner bark. Vigorous and fast-growing, this dwarf cultivar forms a dense, deciduous, multi-stemmed tree with a uniform broad-pyramidal to broad-rounded habit. The foliage of leathery, diamond-shaped, bright green leaves deepens to dark green as the season progresses, before turning pale yellow in fall. Perfect for wet soils, 'Little King' can tolerate locations with drier soils and is noted for its excellent resistance to bronze birch borer.

  • Winner of the Gold Medal award of The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and of the Cary Award, which recognizes plants that are particularly adequate for New England, offer superior landscape appeal, are winter hardy, and are pest resistant. 
  • Grows up to 8-10 ft. tall and wide (240-300 cm) in 10 years.
  • A full sun or part shade lover, this plant is easily grown in average, wet soils. Adaptable and heat tolerant, this river birch will grow in a wide range of situations, including semi-aquatic conditions, but performs best in moist, slightly acidic soils. Consider using soaker hoses and bark mulches to keep the root zones cool and moist.
  • Perfect as a specimen plant or in borders, along ponds and streams, cottage gardens, and foundation plantings.
  • Low maintenance, this plant needs little pruning. If pruning is necessary, prune during the dormant season and avoid pruning in spring when the sap is running.
  • May be affected by sawflies, aphids, rust, and leaf spot.
  • Propagate by softwood cuttings or grafting
  • Native to central and eastern USA

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Requirements

Hardiness 4 – 9
Heat Zones 1 – 9
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Trees
Plant Family Betula - Birches
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Winter
Height 8' – 10' (240cm – 3m)
Spread 8' – 10' (240cm – 3m)
Spacing 360" (900cm)
Water Needs Average, High
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Moisture Retentive, Poorly Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Plant of Merit, Showy
Tolerance Clay Soil, Deer, Wet Soil
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Ponds and Streams, Rain Gardens
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden

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Missouri Botanical Garden

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.


Requirements

Hardiness 4 – 9
Heat Zones 1 – 9
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Trees
Plant Family Betula - Birches
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Winter
Height 8' – 10' (240cm – 3m)
Spread 8' – 10' (240cm – 3m)
Spacing 360" (900cm)
Water Needs Average, High
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Moisture Retentive, Poorly Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Plant of Merit, Showy
Tolerance Clay Soil, Deer, Wet Soil
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Ponds and Streams, Rain Gardens
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden

Great Plant Combination Ideas with Betula - Birches

Guides with Betula - Birches

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