River birch is a wonderful shade tree with an expansive native range, beautiful form and glossy green leaves that yellow in the fall.
 
     Hundreds of butterfly and moth caterpillars feed on River Birch, one of Doug Tallamy's top 5 native trees for birds and one of Audubon's Bird-Friendly Plants of the Year for 2016.
 
     In spring, birds feed on the caterpillars crawling all over the tree, and in winter, woodpeckers grab insects hiding in the exfoliating bark.
 
     For more on River Birch, read our blog here.