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Betula nana

Betula nana L.

Dwarf Birch, Swamp Birch

Betulaceae (Birch Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: BENA

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N), GL (N)

Swamp birch or dwarf birch is a dwarf shrub that has many branches growing along the ground before turning up at the tips. The small, rounded and toothed leaves are dark green on top and paler beneath.

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Subshrub , Shrub
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Venation: Pinnate
Breeding System: Flowers Unisexual , Monoecious
Fruit Type: Samara
Size Notes: Stems sprawling, creeping or upright, up to about 3 feel long.
Leaf: Green.
Autumn Foliage: yes

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Green
Bloom Time: Apr , May

Distribution

USA: AK , CA , CO , ID , ME , MT , NH , NY , OR , SD , UT , VT , WA , WY
Canada: AB , MB , NB , NS , NT
Native Distribution: AK to Greenland
Native Habitat: Wet bogs & tundra areas

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist , Wet
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Soil Description: Wet, sandy soils.
Conditions Comments: Adapts to drier soils.

Propagation

Description: Sow seeds as soon as ripe in moist, sandy, shaded soil. Germination is facilitated by exposure to light; never plant too deeply. Seedlings can be transplanted at one year.
Seed Collection: Birch seed is collected by picking the catkins while they are still green enough to hold together. They shatter easily and should be put directly into bags.
Seed Treatment: One month cold stratification compensates for light treatment.
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:		FAC

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Betula nana in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Betula nana in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Betula nana

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-12-12
Research By: TWC Staff

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