The Many Uses of River Birch

As with many Native trees, people have found uses for all parts of the River Birch. Birch trees have been tapped for syrup, and the sap can also be fermented to make birch beer or vinegar. In the past the buds were used to make a salve, the leaves were used to treat dysentery, and the bark was used to treat other stomach issues.

Birch wood is light but strong and hard, and can be used for furniture, baskets, and other small-scale woodworking, but its multi-stemmed nature usually lends it too knotty for commercial use. It has also been used for pulpwood, with other bottomland trees. Small branches were used to make whisk brooms.

Learn more about the many uses of River Birch in our article this month 'River Birch- A Noteworthy Native'.