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Summary
Bloom Color: Brown.
Main Bloom Time: Early spring, Early winter, Late spring, Late winter, Mid spring, Mid winter. Form: Oval, Pyramidal, Upright or erect.
Physical Characteristics
Betula Nigra is a deciduous Tree growing to 20 m (65ft 7in) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4. It is in flower in March, and the seeds ripen in June. 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 soil. 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
Betula americana, Betula lanulosa, Betula rubra.
Habitats
Woodland Garden Canopy; Secondary; Sunny Edge;
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Sap
Edible Uses: Sweetener
Sap - raw or cooked[2]. A sweet flavour[177]. Harvested in early spring, before the leaves unfurl. The trunk is tapped by drilling a hole about 6mm wide and about 4cm deep. The sap flows best on warm sunny days following a hard frost. It makes a refreshing drink[55, 95] and can also be concentrated into a syrup or sugar[183]. The sap can be fermented to make birch beer or vinegar[183]. 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.
Antiseborrheic Diuretic Dysentery Salve Stomachic Urinary
A salve was made by boiling the buds until they were thick and pasty, sulphur was added and this was then applied externally to skin sores and ringworm[213]. The leaves have been chewed, or used as an infusion, in the treatment of dysentery[257]. An infusion of the bark has been used to treat stomach problems, 'milky' urine and difficult urination with discharge[257]. The German Commission E Monographs, a therapeutic guide to herbal medicine, approve Betula species for infections of the urinary tract, kidney and bladder stones, rheumatism (see [302] for critics of commission E).
References More on Medicinal Uses
Now available: PLANTS FOR YOUR FOOD FOREST: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens.
An important new book from PFAF. It focuses on the attributes of plants suitable for food forests, what each can contribute to a food forest ecosystem, including carbon sequestration, and the kinds of foods they yield. The book suggests that community and small-scale food forests can provide a real alternative to intensive industrialised agriculture, and help to combat the many inter-related environmental crises that threaten the very future of life on Earth.
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Other Uses
Besom Soil stabilization Wood
Young branches are used to make besoms, whisks etc[6]. This species has an extensive root system and is sometimes planted for erosion control along the banks of streams[227]. Wood - light, strong, close grained and hard, but it contains many knots because of the numerous branches along the trunk. It weighs 36lb per cubic foot. Of little use commercially, though it is sometimes used for furniture, turnery etc[46, 61, 82, 227, 229].
Special Uses
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
Landscape Uses:Firewood, Pest tolerant, Specimen, Woodland garden. Succeeds in a well-drained loamy soil in a sheltered position11, 43, 200]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Likes its roots within reach of water[11]. Dislikes wet soils according to another report[200]. Shade tolerant[200]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[50]. A good plant to grow near the compost heap, aiding the fermentation process[20]. Trees are notably susceptible to honey fungus[200]. Special Features:
Attracts birds, North American native, Attracts butterflies, Inconspicuous flowers or blooms.
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:
Fahrenheit:
The PFAF Bookshop
Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.
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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 Plant Search
Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search
Found In
Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available
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 | | 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 kenaica | Kenai Birch | Tree | 12.0 |
0-0
| F | LMH | SN | M | 3 | 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.
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