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Betula glandulosa - Michx.

Common Name Scrub Birch
Family Betulaceae
USDA hardiness Coming soon
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Streambanks, marsh margins, lakes and bogs, also found on alpine slopes[60].
Range North-western N. America - Newfoundland to Alaska, southwards on mountain ranges.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Betula glandulosa Scrub Birch


USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. Vol. 1: 611.
Betula glandulosa Scrub Birch
Susan McDougall @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Betula glandulosa is a deciduous Shrub growing to 2 m (6ft 7in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 1 and is not frost tender. 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. crenata. B. glandulifera.

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Ground Cover;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers  Leaves
Edible Uses: Condiment

Young leaves and catkins - raw[172]. The buds and twigs are used as a flavouring in stews[172].

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

Hair

The plant is valuable for ground cover[245]. An infusion of the plant is used as a hair conditioner and dandruff treatment[172].

Special Uses

Dynamic accumulator  Ground cover  Scented Plants

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in a well-drained loamy soil in a sheltered position[11, 200]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Shade tolerant[200]. B. glandulifera, mentioned above as a synonym of this species, might be a separate species in its own right[11, 200]. 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[200]. The branches are covered in aromatic glands, and the leaves are pleasantly fragrant when crushed[245]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[50]. This species is closely related to B. nana[11]. Trees are notably susceptible to honey fungus[200].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

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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

TEMPERATE ASIA: Russian Federation-Eastern Siberia (Eastern Siberia), Russian Federation (Buryatia, Gorno-Altay, Irkutsk, Krasnoyarsk, Yakutia-Sakha), Russian Federation-Far East (Far East) NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Northwest Territories, Yukon, Québec, Nova Scotia, Ontario (north), Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan (north), Alberta, Manitoba (north), British Columbia), Greenland (southwest), United States (Alaska, Maine, New Hampshire (north), New York (northeast), South Dakota (southwest), Colorado (west), Idaho, Montana (west), Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, New Mexico (north), California (north), Utah)

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 :

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12

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

Michx.

Botanical References

1160200

Links / References

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