River birch tree named ‘Whit XXVI’

Abstract

The new and distinct variety of river birch tree, Betula nigra, which was given the cultivar name ‘Whit XXVI’, is characterized as having a tree form that is broadly pyramidal to oval and may grow with a single or multiple stems for greater landscape appeal. The bark of the ‘Whit XXVI’ is distinctly orange during late summer after the greatest stem diameter increase and remains so throughout the winter with only moderate darkening, but remaining orange in color. Bark coloration begins at about one inch diameter and remains. The leaves of ‘Whit XXVI’ are dark green and slightly smaller in size and more plentiful than a typical river birch seedling. In one example, ‘Whit XXVI’ averaged about 1.15 leaves per inch of twig while the typical river birch seedling averaged about 0.7 leaves per inch of twig.

I claim: 
     
       1. A new and distinct variety of river birch tree named ‘WHIT XXVI’, substantially as illustrated and described herein.