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Summary
Physical Characteristics
Betula kenaica is a deciduous Tree growing to 12 m (39ft 4in) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 2. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Wind.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay and nutritionally poor soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
B. papyrifera kenaica. (W.H.Evans.)Henry.
Plant Habitats
Woodland Garden Canopy; Secondary;
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Flowers Inner bark Leaves Sap
Edible Uses: Condiment
Young leaves and catkins - raw[172]. The buds and twigs are used as a flavouring in stews[172]. Inner bark - raw or cooked. Best in spring[172]. Inner bark can be dried and ground into a powder and then used as a thickener in soups etc or added to flour when making bread, biscuits etc. Inner bark is generally only seen as a famine food, used when other forms of starch are not available or are in short supply[K]. Sap - raw or cooked[172]. It can be used as a refreshing drink, or can be concentrated by boiling to make a syrup[K]. It is tapped in late winter, the flow is best on sunny days following a heavy frost. The sap can be fermented into a beer. An old English recipe for the beer is as follows:- "To every Gallon of Birch-water put a quart of Honey, well stirr'd together; then boil it almost an hour with a few Cloves, and a little Limon-peel, keeping it well scumm'd. When it is sufficiently boil'd, and become cold, add to it three or four Spoonfuls of good Ale to make it work...and when the Test begins to settle, bottle it up . . . it is gentle, and very harmless in operation within the body, and exceedingly sharpens the Appetite, being drunk ante pastum."[269].
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antirheumatic Antiseborrheic Astringent Lithontripic Salve Sedative
The bark is antirheumatic, astringent, lithontripic, salve and sedative[172].
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
Fuel Hair Kindling
An infusion of the plant is used as a hair conditioner and dandruff treatment[172]. Wood - close-grained, light, strong, hard, tough[82]. It makes a good fuel[172], whilst the bark makes a good kindling[172].
Special Uses
Dynamic accumulator
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
Succeeds in a well-drained loamy soil in a sunny position[11, 200]. Tolerates most soils including poor soils and heavy clays[200]. Fairly wind tolerant[200]. A fast-growing but short-lived species[200]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[50]. A good plant to grow near the compost heap, aiding the fermentation process[20]. This plant is closely related to B. papyrifera, and possibly no more than a sub-species of that species[11, 200]. Trees are notably susceptible to honey fungus[200].
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
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Plant Propagation
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a light position in a cold frame[78, 80, 113, 134]. Only just cover the seed and place the pot in a sunny position[78, 80, 134]. Spring sown seed should be surface sown in a sunny position in a cold frame[113, 134]. If the germination is poor, raising the temperature by covering the seed with glass can help[134]. 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[78, 80, 113, 134].
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Native Range
NORTHERN AMERICA: United States (Alaska)
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :
| Related Plants
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| Latin Name | Common Name | Habit | Height | Hardiness | Growth | Soil | Shade | Moisture | Edible | Medicinal | Other |
| Alnus acuminata | Alder | Tree | 25.0 |
10-12
| F | LMH | SN | M | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Alnus cordata | Italian Alder | Tree | 25.0 |
5-9
| F | MH | SN | DMWe | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Alnus glutinosa | Alder, European alder , Common Alder, Black Alder | Tree | 25.0 |
3-7
| F | MH | SN | MWe | 0 | 3 | 5 |
| Alnus hirsuta | | Tree | 18.0 |
3-7
| | MH | SN | MWe | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Alnus incana | Grey Alder, Speckled alder, Thinleaf alder, White Alder | Tree | 18.0 |
2-6
| F | MH | SN | DMWe | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Alnus japonica | Japanese Alder | Tree | 22.0 |
4-8
| F | MH | SN | DMWe | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Alnus jorullensis | Mexican alder, Evergreen Alder | Tree | 25.0 |
7-12
| F | LMH | SN | MWe | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Alnus maritima | Seaside Alder, Beach Alder | Tree | 9.0 |
3-7
| M | MH | N | MWe | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Alnus maximowiczii | | Tree | 9.0 |
4-8
| | MH | SN | MWe | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Alnus nepalensis | Nepalese Alder | Tree | 22.0 |
8-11
| F | MH | SN | MWe | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Alnus nitida | West Himalayan Alder | Tree | 30.0 |
7-10
| | MH | SN | DMWe | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Alnus rhombifolia | White Alder | Tree | 12.0 |
8-11
| F | MH | SN | MWe | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Alnus rubra | Red Alder, Oregon Alder | Tree | 20.0 |
6-8
| F | MH | SN | MWe | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Alnus rugosa | Speckled Alder | Tree | 22.0 |
2-6
| F | MH | SN | MWe | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Alnus serrulata | Smooth Alder, Hazel alder | Shrub | 4.5 |
3-9
| | MH | N | MWe | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Alnus sinuata | Sitka Alder | Shrub | 4.0 |
2-9
| F | MH | SN | MWe | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Alnus tenuifolia | Mountain Alder, Thinleaf alder | Tree | 9.0 |
5-7
| F | MH | SN | MWe | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Alnus viridis crispa | American Green Alder | Shrub | 3.0 |
4-8
| | MH | SN | MWe | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Betula alleghaniensis | Yellow Birch, Swamp Birch | Tree | 12.0 |
3-7
| F | LMH | SN | M | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| Betula alnoides | | Tree | 40.0 |
7-10
| F | LMH | SN | M | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Betula ermanii | Gold Birch | Tree | 25.0 |
3-7
| F | LMH | SN | M | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Betula glandulosa | Scrub Birch | Shrub | 2.0 |
0-0
| | LMH | SN | M | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Betula lenta | Cherry Birch, Sweet birch, Black Birch, Cherry Birch | Tree | 24.0 |
3-7
| F | LMH | SN | M | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Betula nana | Dwarf Birch | Shrub | 0.3 |
0-0
| | LMH | SN | M | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Betula nigra | River Birch, Black Birch, Red Birch, Water Birch, River Birch | Tree | 20.0 |
3-9
| F | LMH | SN | M | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Betula occidentalis | Water Birch | Tree | 9.0 |
0-0
| F | LMH | SN | M | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Betula papyrifera | Paper Birch, Mountain paper birch, Kenai birch | Tree | 20.0 |
0-0
| F | LMH | N | DM | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| Betula pendula | Silver Birch, European white birch, Common Birch, Warty Birch, European White Birch | Tree | 20.0 |
2-6
| F | LMH | N | DM | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Betula platyphylla | White Birch, Asian white birch, | Tree | 20.0 |
3-6
| F | LMH | N | DM | 2 | 2 | 2 |
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Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
Expert comment
Author
W.H.Evans.
Botanical References
1182200
Links / References
For a list of references used on this page please go here
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