Leaves are alternate, simple, and double-toothed with equal leaf bases.
The river birch is a medium-sized tree in Iowa. As the name implies, it is found on the rich, moist soils along streams, rivers, and swampy areas mostly in the southeastern and central parts of the state. Its leaves are smaller than those of the yellow birch. The bark is brown to bronze, peeling horizontally. The fruit,containing small, flat, brown winged seeds, stands erect on the twigs.