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Betula nana

dwarf birch

A diminutive birch to a height of up to 75cm with tiny rounded, yet serrated deciduous green leaves which turn dramatic shades of red and yellow in autumn. Perfect for a rock garden

Other common names
Arctic birch

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Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metres
Time to ultimate height
10–20 years
Ultimate spread
1–1.5 metres
Growing conditions
Loam
Sand
Clay
Chalk
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drained
pH
Neutral, Acid, Alkaline
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green
Summer Green
Autumn Red Yellow
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade
Aspect

West–facing or South–facing or North–facing or East–facing

Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness
H7
Botanical details
Family
Betulaceae
Native to the UK
Yes
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy, Spreading branched, Clump forming
Genus

Betula can be deciduous trees or shrubs, usually colouring well in autumn and often with striking white, pink, or peeling brown bark; separate male and female catkins open before or with the leaves in spring

Name status

Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Will grow in a wide range of situations, sun or part shade. Ideal for a rock garden

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in a seed bed in autumn or take softwood cuttings in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Rock garden
  • Flower borders and beds
Pruning

Pruning group 1; birches bleed heavily, prune only when fully dormant from late summer to before mid-winter

Pests

May be susceptible to birch borers, leaf-mining sawflies and aphids

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus, a tree rust and powdery mildews

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