Dwarf Birch.

En un coup d'œil

Niveau d'entretien

Moyenne

Type de plante

Deciduous shrub

Lumière

Full sun to partial shade

Lumière en intérieur

Lumière vive indirecte

Arrosage

Tous les 3 à 7 jours

Taille adulte

1 to 4 feet

Croissance

Lente

Rusticité

USDA 1 à 7

Floraison

Late spring

Entretien

Keep the soil consistently moist to mimic its natural boggy habitat. Watch for wilting or leaf drop, which often signal that the plant is drying out too much. Ensure it gets plenty of cool air, as it struggles in intense heat.

Arrosage

Keep the soil damp at all times but not waterlogged.

Engrais

Apply a balanced, acidic fertilizer during the active growing season.

Taille

Trim back dead or crossing branches in late winter while the plant is dormant.

Rempotage

Repot only when the roots have filled the container or the soil has broken down.

Sol

Acidic, peaty, and moist

pH du sol

4.5 to 6.0

Température

-40 à 20°C

Humidité

40 à 80%

Résistance à la sécheresse

Moyenne

Durée de vie

Perennial, can live for several decades in ideal conditions.

Résistance aux chevreuils et lapins

Moyenne

Sécurité

Humains

This plant is not considered toxic to humans.

Enfants

There are no specific safety concerns for children regarding this plant.

Allergènes de contact

The foliage may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

Allergènes aéroportés

The windborne pollen can trigger seasonal allergies in susceptible people.

Comestibilité

The leaves and catkins are not typically consumed by humans.

Comment l'identifier

• Small rounded serrated leaves
• Low growing shrubby habit
• Dark brown papery bark
• Tiny catkins in spring

Hauteur

0,1 à 1,2m

Envergure

0,3 à 1,5m

Feuilles

green, yellow, deciduous

Fleurs

brown, yellow, 1 à 2cm

Fruits

brown, Late summer

Problèmes courants

• Birch leaf miner — Small larvae create tunnels inside the leaves, causing browning.

La cultiver

Multiplication

cuttings, seed

Quand planter

spring, autumn

Hivernage

It is fully hardy and requires no special protection during winter. Ensure the soil does not dry out completely if the winter is mild.

En pot

It grows well in containers if kept in a cool, well ventilated area with consistent moisture.

Group this plant with other slow growing alpine species to prevent it from being crowded out.

Bonnes associations

• Papaver radicatum — They share similar environmental requirements in rocky, cold soils.
• Dryas octopetala — This low growing mat plant complements the dwarf birch habit.

Espèces similaires

• Betula papyrifera — A much larger relative that shares the same genus.

Science

Famille

Betulaceae

Genre

Betula

Ordre

Fagales

Classe

Magnoliopsida

Région d'origine

Circumpolar regions including northern Europe, Asia, and North America.

Préservation

It is protected in some parts of its southern range due to habitat loss.

It survives in harsh, nutrient poor soils by forming symbiotic relationships with mycorrhizal fungi.

Intérêt pour la faune

larval host plant, shelter for small insects

Pollinisateurs

abeilles, papillons

Utilisations

rock gardens, tundra restoration, ornamental shrub

Taxonomie vérifiée avec le GBIF.

Ce qu'on demande souvent

Can I grow this in a warm climate?

No, it requires cool summers and cold winters to thrive.

How fast does it grow?

It is a very slow growing shrub, often adding only a few centimeters per year.

D'où vient le nom

The specific epithet nana means dwarf, referring to its low, creeping growth habit.

Bon à savoir

• It is one of the smallest birch species in the world.
• It often hybridizes with other birch species where their ranges overlap.
• The leaves turn a beautiful golden yellow in the autumn.
• It is a key species for stabilizing soil in arctic environments.