Why Plant Fox Valley® River Birch?
Fox Valley® Dwarf River Birch is a pint-sized cutie unlike any Birch tree you’ve ever seen. Growing only 10 feet tall and 12 feet wide after 15 years, this rare but easy-to-grow specimen tree fits into any landscape, large or small. Plant it in a small island bed in your front yard, in your entryway garden, near your back patio, or in the border along your property line. You can even plant Fox Valley (a.k.a. ‘Little King’) in that low spot in your yard to soak up extra water, though this adaptable tree doesn’t need wet soil to thrive. Plus, it has all the assets of the “big boy” River Birches—flaky, peaches-and-cream bark, golden fall color, and excellent disease resistance!
Fox Valley® traces its origins back to the late 1970s, when it appeared in the nursery of Jim King of Oswego, Illinois. However, the tree remained a well-kept secret for many years. In 1991, the plant introduction group Chicagoland Grows® finally got the word out about this great little tree. At last—a River Birch for the small property! It was an immediate hit, and continues to be a popular choice for homeowners looking for a compact specimen with year-round appeal. You may also find this tree listed as ‘Little King.’
How to use Fox Valley® River Birch in the landscape?
Planting this foxy specimen will bring you some attention! Fox Valley® River Birch is a smaller Birch that is low maintenance and very adaptable to various soil conditions. Dark green leaves turn brilliant yellow in fall. Brown male catkins and green female catkins appear in spring. The best part? The classic exfoliating bark appears at an early age. Plant them in groupings in large lawns; in borders or in damp areas along ponds and streams.
Planting Zones
Hardiness Zones: 4-9
How To Plant Fox Valley® River Birch
Fox Valley® River Birch is easy to grow and you can plant them in practically any sunny location, just make sure the soil is not extremely dry. Fox Valley® will brighten your cool, autumn days. No major pest or disease problems, plus River Birch is very resistant to bronze birch borer, a major pest of many birch.
How To Water
Water twice weekly for the first 3-5 weeks; then water weekly for the remainder of the year until winter. When you water, water slowly and thoroughly. You cannot over water a River Birch in the summer and remember, your River Birch will be extra thirsty in its first summer. Watering needs may be altered due to extreme weather conditions.
How To Fertilize
Incorporate Elements Starter Plant Food granular form into the soil when planting. If planting in spring or summer, start fertilizing late fall using Elements Starter Plant Food granular form on an annual basis each late fall. Continue this for the first three years to get your plant well established.
How To Prune
Over time, Fox Valley® develops into a mushroom-shaped tree with a dense canopy. You may want to thin some of the branches to give the tree a more graceful habit. Pruning is best done in summer, as cuts will “bleed” when the sap is flowing. Bleeding doesn’t really harm the tree, but it looks quite distressing. Prune out no more than 15 to 20 percent of the canopy at one time. Fox Valley® is otherwise as easy to grow as any River Birch—that is, a piece of cake!
How Does Shipping Work?
Bower & Branch Trees, the real BIG trees, don’t fit in a box! Our big trees, sizes XL and bigger, require expert delivery and care, that means our extra-large trees are shipped on Bower & Branch trucks. We are the only ones who know how to ship our big and bigger trees and plants with tender loving care. We deliver your trees and plants directly to you. Ask Bower & Branch about planting services – we'd be happy to assist in installation.
*For Big trees and Shrubs, Size XL and bigger: Review our Seasonal Shipping Timelines and Policy here.
Your trees and plants are grown across the United States at various Bower & Branch Growers. Depending on your location, your plant orders may be shipped from various locations. Please expect orders with multiple items to be delivered over a number of days as a result. Orders made up of numerous items or selections will not arrive at your home on the same day.
Shipping Delays:
From time to time, Bower & Branch Growers may determine to delay order shipment based on various factors for plant health. Weather in your region, as well as, where your plants are grown, is always considered when shipping. Extreme weather conditions may delay some or all of your order. Bower & Branch allows our Growers to make final shipping decisions based solely to benefit your trees and plants’ health and success.
How Does Sizing Work?
The size of our trees have nothing to do with the container size like you may find elsewhere–big doesn't mean just height - it’s also vigor, age, and overall health. Other online retailers are going to tell you that a plant is a seven gallon, that means nothing to your tree or plant (or you.)
Our trees for sale online are graded on large, x-large, and even bigger sizes. This is because our trees are sized by their age—the higher the letter, the more mature the tree. The age determines the trees’ overall height, size of the trunk and the overall branch density.
All of these characteristics are what you should be looking for when choosing a tree for immediate impact and instant curb appeal. Our extra-large tree and plant sizes are sure to wow you and your neighbors!
See the size guides below.
