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    • Photo of Betula nigra 'Little King' form by Chicagoland Grows® Plant Introduction Program

    Photo by Chicagoland Grows® Plant Introduction Program

    Used with permission, all rights reserved

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    Betula nigra 'Little King'

    Also Known As

    • Betula Little King®
    • Betula nigra 'Fox Valley'
    • Fox Valley Dwarf Birch
    • Little King Dwarf River Birch
    • Little King River Birch - Fox Valley®
    • Little King Tropical Birch

    Plant type

    tree, shrub

    size

    • H: 10'-12'
    • W: 8'-12'

    planting zones

    • 4a-9b

    More Options

    Betula nigra 'Little King' plant details

    Betula nigra 'Little King' is a broadleaf deciduous shrub or tree with green foliage. In spring flowers emerge. Features glossy texture. Attracts birds. Grows well with sun - dappled shade and even moisture - occasional water. Drought tolerant once established. Adapts to various soil conditions. Does well in acidic, alkaline, average, clay, rich and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something heat tolerant, verticillium wilt resistant and wind tolerant.

    CHARACTERISTICS OF Betula nigra 'Little King'

    Plant type: shrub or tree
    Plant family: betulaceae
    Foliage: deciduous green
    Mature size: 8 FT - 12 FT - wide, 10 FT - 12 FT - tall
    Uses: borer-resistant, disease-resistant, distinctive bark, dwarf, fall color, peeling bark, pest resistant

    GROWING CONDITIONS for Betula nigra 'Little King'

    USDA Zones: 4a - 9b
    Sun exposure: sun - dappled shade
    Watering frequency: even moisture - occasional
    Resistant to: heat, verticillium wilt and wind
    Soil needs: acidic, alkaline, average, clay, rich and well-drained

    Nursery contributed plant descriptions

    This special 8-10' dwarf birch is an excellent multi-stemmed form of the lovely native river birch. Featuring outstanding white-to-salmon peeling bark which is absolutely beautiful contrasting with the diamond-shaped dark-green leaves, lovely in fall when they turn lemon-yellow. It is a wonderful subject for bonsai and also very good in containers or at the ponds edge. S/M-W

    By: Forestfarm

    One of the most disease free river birches. It is very resistance to the bronze birch borer. Grows to a height of 8-10 feet and a wide of 8-12 feet. It's beautiful exfoliating bark makes this small tree a year round winner.

    By: Accents for Home and Garden

    Selected by King Nursery, Oswego, Illinois, for its uniform compact habit, adaptability to various soils, excellent disease/pest resistance, and ornamental exfoliating bark. The bark character becomes evident at an early age, exhibiting colorful patterns of cinnamon-red and pale salmon on trunks and main branches. Grows to 8' to 12' in height with an equal or greater spread in ten years. No fruiting. An unusual birch, very dense and wider than tall. Excellent for hedging.

    By: Chicagoland Grows® Plant Introduction Program

    A natural dwarf, this River Birch will only get 10' as a single trunk or multi-stemmed tree. The cream and cinnamon colored bark exfoliates leaving a lighter trunk. Very reisistant to Bronze Birch Borer, the tree is best adapted to moist acid soils. zone 4

    By: Whitman Farms

    A compact shrubby variety that will get to 10-12' high and about as wide. Put it where you can see it in the winter as its pealing bark gives texture to the colorful bark of cream and peach. Give plenty of moisture until established. A great addition to our choices.

    By: Greer Gardens Inc.

    A unique compact selection of River Birch getting 10' tall and wide in time. Bark develops a mosaic of salmon-orange and cinnamon-red.

    By: Dancing Oaks Nursery

    Gardening facts about Betula nigra 'Little King' plant

    How to Grow Betula nigra 'Little King'

    • Sun Exposure

      • sun - dappled shade

    • Water Needs

      • even moisture - drought tolerant

    • Soil Needs

      • clay
      • acidic
      • alkaline
      • adaptable
      • average
      • well-drained
      • rich

    • Special Situation

      • heat tolerant
      • wind tolerant
      • verticillium wilt resistant

    Features

    • Foliage Color

      • green

    • Wildlife

      • birds

    • Flower Season

      • spring

    • Foliage Season

      • deciduous

    • Texture

      • glossy

    See other plant types of Betula for your garden

    Betula utilis ssp. albosinensis

    aka Betula albo-sinensis, Betula albosinensis, Betula albosinensis 'Septentrionalis', Betula albosinensis var. septentrionalis, Chinese Red Birch

    Plant Type

    Tree

    Zones

    5a-8b

    Size

    Height: 40'-50'

    Width: 30'-40'

    • sun - bright shade
    • even moisture - regular
    Photo of Betula utilis ssp. albosinensis by Sten Porse
    View Plant

    Betula 'Edinburgh'

    aka White stemmed Birch

    Plant Type

    Tree

    Zones

    5a-8b

    Size

    Height: 10'-50'

    Width: 6'-15'

    • sun - bright shade
    • even moisture - regular
    Photo of Betula 'Edinburgh' foliage by plant lust
    View Plant

    Betula nigra Heritage

    Scientific Name: Betula nigra 'Cully'

    aka Betula nigra 'Cully' Heritage®, Betula nigra 'Heritage', Betula nigra Heritage®, Cully River Birch, Heritage River Birch

    Plant Type

    Tree

    Zones

    4a-9b

    Size

    Height: 30'-80'

    Width: 25'-40'

    • sun - dappled shade
    • even moisture - drought tolerant
    Photo of Betula nigra Heritage form by Bob Gutowski
    View Plant

    More Options

    Betula pendula 'Laciniata'

    aka Betula pendula 'Cutleaf', Cutleaf European White Birch, Cutleaf Weeping Birch

    Plant Type

    Tree

    Zones

    2a-8b

    Size

    Height: 40'

    Width: 20'

    • sun - mostly shade
    • even moisture - drought tolerant
    Photo of Betula pendula 'Laciniata' foliage by Kurt Stueber
    View Plant

    More Options

    Betula pendula 'Trost Dwarf' PP12749

    aka Betula pendula 'Trost's Dwarf', Trost's Dwarf European White Birch

    Plant Type

    Shrub

    Zones

    2a-9b

    Size

    Height: 3'-4'

    Width: 3'-4'

    • sun - bright shade
    • even moisture
    Photo of Betula pendula 'Trost Dwarf' PP12749 foliage by Karl Gercens III
    View Plant

    More Options

    +52 more Betula
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