River Birch vs Butternut (White Walnut) - TreeTime.ca

River Birch vs Butternut (White Walnut)

Juglans cinerea

Betula nigra

COMING SOON

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Butternut (White Walnut)
River Birch

Butternut is one of the few walnut varieties native to Canada. The nuts are sought after for their mild, sweet, and oily taste. Ensure this tree is planted in full sun and well-drained soil for best results.

Butternut is self-fertile but it has better yields when planted near other butternuts. It can survive in zone 2, but reliably produces nuts in zone 3.

A top CO2 absorbing species. Experts think this tree may help climate change more than others.

River Birch has beautiful, peeling, brown bark that reveals camel-colored and pink beneath. It is more borer resistant than white bark birches, which makes it a much longer-lived landscape tree.

Butternut (White Walnut) Quick Facts

River Birch Quick Facts

Zone: 2b
Zone: 3a
Height: 25 m (82 ft)
Height: 12 m (39 ft)
Spread: 8 m (27 ft)
Spread: 5 m (16 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: normal, wet
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: fast
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Suckering: none
Suckering: low
Maintenance: medium


Bark: dark gray-brown or pinkish-brown and scaly
Nuts: brown shell, edible
Seeds: tiny winged seeds located within the catkins
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: yes


Native to: ON, QC, NB
Other Names: demon walnut, oilnut, white walnut
Other Names: black birch, water birch