• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
Open Every Day, Monday-Sunday, 9am-6pm
  • 713-861-5702
  • Location

Buchanan's Native PlantsBuchanan's Native Plants

Houston's favorite garden center devoted to Texas native plants and organic gardening.

Hide Search
Buchanan's Logo
  • Plants
        • Gift Card
        • Spread the love of gardening with your friends and family. Purchase a Buchanan’s gift card here!

        • Plants Overview
        • Annuals
        • Cacti and Succulents
        • Citrus and Fruit
        • Herbs and Vegetables
        • House Plants
        • Perennials
        • Roses
        • Shrubs
        • Texas Natives
        • Trees
        • Vines
  • Lawn and Garden
        • Outdoor garden with pergola
        • Dedicated to native plants and organic gardening,  we are experienced in helping customers create a lovely outdoor setting with the best quality native plants and environmentally safe organic products available today.

        • Lawn and Garden
        • Soils, Mulch and Amendments
        • Fertilizer
        • Garden Tools and Accessories
        • Pest, Weed and Fungus control
        • Birding
  • House and Home
        • Spartina Blue 2023
        • From entryways to vase fillers, we’ve curated a selection of unique home decor, and fashion items from around the world.  We believe your home should be as beautiful as your garden and with Buchanan’s — it’s easy for your style to blossom.

        • Boutique

        • House and Home
        • Fashion and Fragrance
        • Indoor Gardening
        • Kids
        • Purchase a gift card
        • Outdoor Living

        • Fountains
        • Outdoor Decor
        • Pottery
  • Shop Online
    • Purchase plants
    • Purchase a gift card
    • Gift Card Ordering Information
  • Resources
        • A Buchanan's Plants associate holds a bag of seeds
        • Tips and Resources

          Resources to help you create the garden of your dreams. From how-to videos, monthly tips, and a comprehensive plant library – explore what Buchanan’s has to offer.

        • Gardening Articles
        • Gardening Calendar
        • Gardening Guides
        • Gardeners’ Rewards
        • Helpful Resources
        • How to Videos
        • Plant Library
        • Soil and Mulch Calculator
  • News
    • This Week at Buchanan’s
    • Events, Seminars, and Workshops
  • About
        • Buchanan’s Native Plants has been serving Houston gardeners since 1986. Located in the historic Houston Heights, the garden center is dedicated to native plants and organic gardening.  You will find the best selections of hardy natives as well as perennials, herbs, vegetables, trees, shrubs & roses — all suited to the Houston climate.

        • About Us
          • Buchanan’s History
        • Our Team
        • Careers
        • Donation Request
        • FAQ
        • Contact Us
  • Show Search
Home » Plant Library » Trees » Dura Heat River Birch
Dura Heat River Birch | Betula nigra 'Dura Heat'

Dura Heat River Birch

Botanical name: Betula nigra ‘Dura Heat’

This selection is valued for its stunning bark, with white, brown and tan colors all peeling from mature trunks, denser crown and more heat tolerant than the species; good fall color; requires acidic soil, susceptible to chlorosis in alkaline soils.

Other names: Red Birch

  • Characteristics
  • Features and Attributes
  • Planting and Growing

Characteristics

Hardiness zone 4a
Flower color chartreuse
Foliage type deciduous *
Plant form round
Mature height 50 feet
Spread 45 feet
Light requirements

full sun

Moisture requirements

dry to wet

Plant origin North American native

* deciduous = loses leaves in winter

Ornamental Features

Dura Heat River Birch features subtle chartreuse catkins in early spring. It has emerald green foliage throughout the season. The pointy leaves turn an outstanding yellow in the fall. The fruit is not ornamentally significant. The peeling creamy white bark is extremely showy and adds significant winter interest.

Landscape Attributes

Dura Heat River Birch is a dense deciduous tree with a more or less rounded form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and should only be pruned in summer after the leaves have fully developed, as it may 'bleed' sap if pruned in late winter or early spring. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Dura Heat River Birch is recommended for the following landscape applications;

Accent, Shade

Planting and Growing

Dura Heat River Birch will grow to be about 50 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 45 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 3 feet from the ground, and should not be planted underneath power lines. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 70 years or more.

This tree should only be grown in full sunlight. It is an amazingly adaptable plant, tolerating both dry conditions and even some standing water. It is not particular as to soil type, but has a definite preference for acidic soils, and is subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the leaves in alkaline soils. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selection of a native North American species.

Tips

Our Monthly To-Do List For Your Garden

This month
Woman Holding A Box With Herbs In Her Hands

Store Address and Hours

Buchanan’s Native Plants
611 East 11th Street
Houston, Texas 77008

713-861-5702

Hours: 9 am – 6 pm
Open Every Day – Monday – Sunday

Stay in touch

Receive our weekly newsletter containing the latest specials, up-coming events and seminars.

* indicates required

NEW! Receive special offers, updates, content, and more via text!

Join our Mobile Text Club!

Connect on Social

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Tiktok
  • YouTube

We love your garden®

Copyright © 1999 - 2025 Buchanan's Native Plants, All Rights Reserved.

  • Return Policy
  • Privacy Policy