Dwarf Birch
Betula nana
- Native to:
- Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Canada, Czechia-Slovakia, Finland, France, Germany, Greenland, Iceland, Italy, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Svalbard, Sweden, Switzerland, United States
USDA photo, uploader user:MPF
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Betulaceae
- Genus:
- Betula
- Species:
- Betula nana
- USDA Symbol:
- BENA
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Subshrub
- Height:
- 100 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun,Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun
- Ground Cover:
- Yes
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★★☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Eupithecia misturata, Itame occiduaria, Lobed Looper (Syngrapha interrogationis), Spiramater lutra, Swammerdamia caesiella, Syngrapha diasema, Xestia speciosa, Xestia tecta
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fall Color:
- yellow, orange, red
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- peaty, nutrient-poor, acidic soil
- pH:
- 4.5 - 6.0 (acidic to slightly acidic)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- commonly found in bogs and tundra
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Light required for germination. Seeds have very short viability and should be sown fresh or stored cold and moist.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds are placed in cold moist stratification for 14 days if sown outside Fall season. No pretreatment necessary if sown in the Fall.
Establishment: B. nana is found throughout the arctic and subarctic regions of the Northern hemisphere; in North America, Europe and Asia. Most of Alaska eastward through YT, NT, and Nunavut to Hudson Bay and dipping into extreme northern BC, AB, SK, and MB. Collection made in late summer/early Fall.
Source: npn.rngr.net