Mine in the ground spring 2004 as a small bare-root seedling (now 8' tall) has already "peeled" on the bottom 6 inches, exposing a creamy off-white.

I simply love the overall look of 'Heritage' River Birch trees. The 'Dura Heats' are reported to withstand planting areas that drain better and that may encounter more drying out in the hottest parts of summer, when rains are less apt to occur. Personally though, the 'Dura Heat' birches seem to display a little more yellow than I would prefer to see in a birch tree's bark. The leaves also do not seem to be as nicely shaped or colored as the Heritage Birch tree's leaves. Bottom line; I guess whichever birch cultivar you plant needs to the cultivar that is more compatable with the soil conditons and climate that the tree will encounter in its intended planting site. Still personally I prefer the Heritage Birch tree cultivar over most others. There are even prettier cultivars than Heritage Birch, but any those others that happen to tolerate my USDA zone area seem to be more prone to Birch borers or even other pests, which feed off the leaves of such birch trees.

It will rebark itself for protection right? ==>>> are you asking if its genetically capable of surviving without your interference ... lol .. one would hope so ... e.g. bark of young maples is smooth ... maybe upwards of a decade ... but sooner or later.. and we always have to think in tree time ... the bark matures and changes ... it doesnt necessarily mean anything is wrong ... its not a great link.. but see the differences https://www.google.com/search?q=bark+of+young+maples&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjciu_bzP_NAhXix4MKHe4KBgYQ_AUICCgB&biw=968&bih=745&dpr=0.9 i am still wondering about being planted like a telephone pole.. and wonder how deep the root flare is ... another link ... https://www.google.com/search?q=bark+of+young+maples&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjciu_bzP_NAhXix4MKHe4KBgYQ_AUICCgB&biw=968&bih=745&dpr=0.9#tbm=isch&q=root+flare sooo ... my bottom line ... its not some hundred foot tree hanging over your house.. so no immediate need to do anything proactive.. unless you are interested enough to pull back some of that soil and grass around the trunk and find out about that ... but again .. in tree time.. it may or may not be an issue... within a decade or so ... ken

My "sparrows" turned out to be female red-winged blackbirds. I always thought they were black like the males, but I was wrong.