Bog Birch
Betula pumila
Also known as: Northern Birch
Mason Brock (Masebrock)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Betulaceae
- Genus:
- Betula
- Species:
- Betula pumila
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub
- Height:
- 12-20 ft
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun, Part Shade, Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- may
- Bloom Colors:
- Yellow
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Native Range
United States: California, Connecticut, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, Canada: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Northwest Territories, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Buck Moth (Hemileuca maia), Nevada buckmoth (Hemileuca nevadensis-complex), New England buck moth (Hemileuca lucina), Western tent caterpillar (Malacosoma californica)
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- wet, organic-rich, peaty soil
- pH:
- 5.0 - 7.0 (acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- commonly found in wetlands and bogs
Germination Information
Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).; then Cold-moist stratification for 60 days.
Notes: Seeds may require light for optimal germination.
Source: OpenAI GPT-4o