Water birch is a small streamside tree (or large shrub) that likes to be as close to the water as possible. It has smooth, reddish bark and small toothed leaves. To successfully grow water birch, you will either have to plant it adjacent to water (best option) or water it regularly. 
 
 
 
Water birch is a great habitat species, and is useful for streamside stabilization along with red-osier dogwood, grey alder, chokecherry, and black hawthorn.