As the name implies, a river birch’s native habitat is near river banks, so they prefer moist soil. However, they can tolerate drier soil as the tree matures and the roots become well-established.

These can provide you with the shade you need in a fairly short time frame. The river birch (Betula nigra) is one tree that loves sun and grows quickly, at a rate of about 1 ½ to 3 feet per year.