River birch (Betula nigra) is available all over North America. Its preferred environments for growth are flood plains and swamps but are not picky about which region they grow in. But is river birch worth cutting for firewood?
As the hottest burning birch variety available in the US with a BTU of 28, river birch is a very desirable firewood. However, many find the heat produced to be too much unless controlled carefully. River birch is the longest burning birch wood, so once you have it at a controllable heat, it will burn long and steady.
What Are The Varieties Of River Birch?
Being a variety of birch in itself, black birch does not have any notable varieties. However, you may hear it more commonly referred to as:
- Black birch
- Sweet birch
- Mountain mahogany
- Cherry birch
What Are The Physical Characteristics Of River Birch?
| Name | River Birch |
| Heat per cord (Million BTUs) | 28 |
| Weight dry (lbs per cord) | 4066 |
| Weight green (lbs per cord) | 4845 |
| Seasoning time | 9-12 months |
| Resin/ Sap Content | High |
| Splitting Difficulty | Easy |
| Smoke | Low |
| Smell | Minty |
| Coal Production | Moderate |
| Creosote Build-up | Moderate |
Does River Birch Split Easily?
For the easiest splitting of river birch, split it while it is still green.
It is denser than some birch firewood varieties, making it a little tougher than white or grey birch. But it can easily be split by hand using a maul, but a hydraulic splitter will make short work of splitting it.
Just ensure that you sore the bark during splitting to allow the wood to fully dry out.
How Much Sap Does it Have?
Like most birch types, river birch does have a high sap content. However, this sap is mostly retained in its bark along with most of its moisture.
Pine is usually a messy affair and can create a dangerous fire because its sap is stored in its wood which does not dry out.
How Does its Wood Smell Like?
Though birch generally has a pleasant smell, many people say that river birch is their favorite smelling birch wood.
It has a unique, wintergreen smell that verges on minty undertones. This smell is not overwhelming by any means but may not be a welcomed fragrance if you are not a fan of mint.
If you would prefer a more aromatic birch, burn grey birch.
Heat Output And Efficiency Of River Birch?
The dense, close-knit fibers of a river birch allow it to burn slowly and at extremely high heat. It is the hottest burning birch with a BTU output of 28, which is just as hot as bitternut hickory and chestnut oak.
You may find such a high burning fire to be too hot, which is why some people favor a cooler burning birch wood. Grey birch, for example, produces 21.3 million BTUs, offering a comfortable level of heat.
Fire Characteristics Of River Birch?
Unlike other birches woods, river birch is very dense and so can burn slowly, lasting a long time.
Most birches provide a hot, aggressive heat for a slightly shorter time. River birch on the other hand burns at a steady heat, making it easier to control its hot flames.
As far as coaling goes, the density of river birch means that it will create better coals than white or grey birch. Though these coals will not be as good as the coals produced by oak or hickory.
With most of its sap being stored in its bark, river birch does not pop or spark as much as other woods, but you will need to ensure that it seasons. This will reduce its moisture content and will allow for a safer, higher-quality fire.
When it comes to fire characteristics, birch varieties have a huge advantage over any other firewood. Namely, their bark is rich in oily sap, making the bark extremely easy to ignite. Because of this, birch bark is often used as a kindling to start a fire, even outdoors when it’s moist, snowy, or even raining.
Does River Birch Burn Clean?
River birch is burning remarkably clean and will not cause many issues. Besides its bark, it will release minimal amounts of smoke while burning if it has been fully seasoned
Furthermore, river birch does not spark and pop much, making it a safe choice to use in a fireplace as well as in a campfire.
Is It Okay To Burn River Birch In A Fireplace?
Out of all the birch woods available as firewood in the US, river birch is by far the most effective to burn in a fireplace. It will burn hot and steady for hours.
However, similarly to other firewood in the same BTU class, you may find this heat to be too much for your fireplace if not kept under control properly.
Besides that, as with other firewood, if you are monitoring potential creosote build-up, river birch will not be a problem.
How Long To Season River Birch?
Some people think that because river birch is denser than other birches, it will need longer to season, but this is not the case.
River birch will only take 12-18 months to fully season in most cases, similarly to other birches. Of course, you will need to check that it has reached a 20% or lower moisture content before burning it.
Scoring a river birches bark is more of a necessity rather than an option if you want to burn it within the same year.
Once the wood has been split and preferably, bark has been removed, it will only take around 12 months to dry in ideal conditions.
Pros And Cons Of River Birch
Pros:
- Easy to prepare
- Low moisture continent
- Efficient heat output
- Slow-burning
- Little smoke
Cons:
- Can burn too hot
How Does River Birch Compare To Other Firewoods?
As the best burning birch available it is no surprise that river birch out-performs white and grey birch. However, it will often burn too hot which is not a problem faced by white birch.
Compared to oak and hickory, river birch creates similarly effective fire while it dries out exceedingly quicker than most other hardwoods.
Furthermore, birch firewood also tends to be a lot cheaper than other, similarly classed firewood.
Frequently Asked Questions
How To Tell When River Birch Is Seasoned?
An experienced firewood user can usually tell by the weight and the look of the logs if they are dry enough for burning, however, looks can often be deceiving, so buy yourself a moisture meter to ensure that the moisture content is below 20% before burning the wood.
Can I Burn Fresh River Birch?
You should avoid burning any type of green wood in a fireplace along with birch. Unseasoned wood will produce a lot of smoke clogging your chimney with creosote in the long run.
What Is The Worst Birch To Burn?
All varieties of birch are great, depending on your preferences. For some, river birch burns too hot, while for some it does not burn hot enough.
Conclusion
River birch is the hottest burning birch wood available proving a hot and steady heat for hours at a time. While some claim the variety to burn too hot, it is still exceptional firewood to keep you warm even during the harshest months of the winter.
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