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Betula nana
  • Dwarf Birch

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Betula genus in the family Betulaceae.

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Niche
  • Soil surface
    Soil surface
    There are no details available for this niche.
Functions
  • Ground cover
    Ground cover
    There are no details available for this function.
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Acid to Alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Heavy clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 2
    Zone 2
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Betula nana has 0 edible uses listed
Betula nana has 0 material uses listed
Betula nana has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Young leaves and catkins - raw[1]. The buds and twigs are used as a flavouring in stews[1].

Unknown part

Condiment

Flowers

Unknown use

Leaves

Unknown use

Material uses

Plants can be used for ground cover, forming a spreading hummock up to 1.2 metres across[2].

An infusion of the plant is used as a hair conditioner and dandruff treatment[1]. A yellow dye is obtained from the leaves[3].

The plant has been used as a tinder, even when wet, and for cooking fires when there is a lack of larger wood[4]. It is likely that the bark was used for tinder[K].

Unknown part

Dye
Hair care
Tinder

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The bark is antirheumatic, astringent, lithontripic, salve and sedative[1].

Moxa is prepared from the plant and is regarded as an effective remedy in all painful diseases[3]. No more details are given, but it is likely that the moxa is prepared from yellow fungous excretions of the wood, since the same report gives this description when talking about other members of the genus[K].

A compound decoction of the leaves has been used in the treatment of stomach ache and intestinal discomfort[4].

Unknown part

Antirheumatic
Astringent
Lithontripic
Miscellany
Salve
Sedative
Stomachic

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Soil surface

Ecological Functions

Ground cover

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a light position in a cold frame[5][6][7][8]. Only just cover the seed and place the pot in a sunny position[5][6][8]. Spring sown seed should be surface sown in a sunny position in a cold frame[7][8]. If the germination is poor, raising the temperature by covering the seed with glass can help[8]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. If you have sufficient seed, it can be sown in an outdoor seedbed, either as soon as it is ripe or in the early spring - do not cover the spring sown seed. Grow the plants on in the seedbed for 2 years before planting them out into their permanent positions in the winter[5][6][7][8].

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Betula nana. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Succeeds in a well-drained loamy soil in a sheltered position[9][10]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Grows well in moist places or the heath garden[11]. Shade tolerant[10].

This species is native to areas with very cold winters and often does not do well in milder zones. It can be excited into premature growth in mild winters and this new growth is susceptible to frost damage[10]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[12].

Trees are notably susceptible to honey fungus[10].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Betula nana. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Betula nana.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Betula nana
Genus
Betula
Family
Betulaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1]
Medicinal uses
[1][3][4]
Material uses & Functions
[2][1][3][4]
Botanic
[9][13][10]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Ground cover
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
2
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
  • Strong wind
Ecosystems
Native Climate Zones
None listed.
Adapted Climate Zones
None listed.
Native Geographical Range
None listed.
Native Environment
None listed.
Ecosystem Niche
Soil surface
Root Zone Tendancy
None listed.
Life
Deciduous or Evergreen
deciduous
Herbaceous or Woody
woody
Life Cycle
perennial
Growth Rate
?
Mature Size
0.3 x 0.45 meters
Fertility
?
Pollinators
Wind
Flower Colour
?
Flower Type
monoecious

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"image:Betula nana0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Betula nana0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


"image:Betula nana0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:Betula nana0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

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References

  1. ? 1.01.11.21.31.41.51.6 Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest. ()
  2. ? 2.02.1 Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons ISBN 0-460-12609-1 (1990-00-00)
  3. ? 3.03.13.23.3 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
  4. ? 4.04.14.24.3 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
  5. ? 5.05.15.2 Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co (1948-00-00)
  6. ? 6.06.16.2 McMillan-Browse. P. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books ISBN 0-901361-21-6 (1985-00-00)
  7. ? 7.07.17.2 Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press ISBN 0942375009 (1987-00-00)
  8. ? 8.08.18.28.38.4 Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. (1988-00-00)
  9. ? 9.09.1 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)
  10. ? 10.010.110.210.310.4 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
  11. ? Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray ISBN 0-7195-5043-2 (1992-00-00)
  12. ? ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press (1964-00-00)
  13. ? Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press (1962-00-00)

"image:Betula nana0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

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Facts about "Betula nana"RDF feed
Article is incompleteYes +
Article requires citationsNo +
Article requires cleanupYes +
Belongs to familyBetulaceae +
Belongs to genusBetula +
Functions asGround cover +
Has common nameDwarf Birch +
Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
Has edible partUnknown part +, Flowers + and Leaves +
Has edible useSeasoning + and Unknown use +
Has environmental toleranceHigh wind +
Has fertility typeWind +
Has flowers of typeMonoecious +
Has hardiness zone2 +
Has imageBetula nana0.jpg +
Has lifecycle typePerennial +
Has material partUnknown part +
Has material useDye +, Hair care + and Tinder +
Has mature height0.3 +
Has mature width0.45 +
Has medicinal partUnknown part +
Has medicinal useAntirheumatic +, Astringent +, Lithontripic +, Miscellany +, Salve +, Sedative + and Stomachic +
Has primary imageBetula nana0.jpg +
Has search namebetula nana + and x +
Has shade toleranceLight shade +
Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
Has soil teheavy clayture preferenceHeavy clay +
Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
Has sun preferenceFull sun +
Has taxonomy nameBetula nana +
Has water requirementsmoderate +
Inhabits ecosystem nicheSoil surface +
Is deciduous or evergreenDeciduous +
Is herbaceous or woodyWoody +
Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
Tolerates windYes +
Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +