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Betula nana

Arctic Dwarf Birch · Dwarf Birch · Alpine Birch

Family BetulaceaeGenus Betula

A twig with small round toothed leaves and short upright green catkins ripening at the leaf joints
FruitUSDA photo, uploader user:MPFPublic domain

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
shrubPlants of the World Online
Habit
Perennial, Shrub, SubshrubPLANTS Database
Height
3.0 ft90 cmPLANTS Database
Flower
GreenPLANTS Database
Blooms
Late SpringPLANTS Database
Native range
Altay, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Central European Russia, Czechia-Slovakia and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy

Growing conditions

Sun
Shade tolerance: MediumPLANTS Database
Soil
Adapted to coarse, medium, fine textured soilsPLANTS Database
Soil pH
4.9-6.5PLANTS Database
Moisture
Moisture use: LowPLANTS Database
Watering
Drought tolerance: MediumPLANTS Database

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • The dwarf birch, a shrub of Arctic tundra, grows to only about 1 m tall. It ranges across Greenland, Iceland, northern Europe, northern Asia and northern North America. Wikipedia: Betula nana

This source reports 7 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 22, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

about 3 months from start to sowing. Then 14 days to germinate.

38% germination in 14 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Betula p. 25Public domain
Show the original text
Betula (Betulaceae). Light and/or 40-70 patterns were best. B. nana germ. 70L (20%, zero order kinetics, ind. 12 d, 10%/d), 70 GA-3 (34%, zero order kinetics, ind. 12 d, 20%/d), 70D-40-70D(24% in 1-4 w), 40-70L(2%), 40- 70D(none), and 5% in OT. After 3 m DS seeds germ. 70L(38% in 2nd w) and 70D(none). The seeds were difficult to count so that the percent germinations in 70L could have been equal for seed fresh and DS 3 m. Seeds DS 1 y germ. 70L(none) and 70D(3%) and are nearly dead, but the light requirement may have disappeared.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Betula p. 25. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 24, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Gibberellic acid soak

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 12 days to germinate.

34% germination in 12 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Betula p. 25Public domain
Show the original text
Betula (Betulaceae). Light and/or 40-70 patterns were best. B. nana germ. 70L (20%, zero order kinetics, ind. 12 d, 10%/d), 70 GA-3 (34%, zero order kinetics, ind. 12 d, 20%/d), 70D-40-70D(24% in 1-4 w), 40-70L(2%), 40- 70D(none), and 5% in OT. After 3 m DS seeds germ. 70L(38% in 2nd w) and 70D(none). The seeds were difficult to count so that the percent germinations in 70L could have been equal for seed fresh and DS 3 m. Seeds DS 1 y germ. 70L(none) and 70D(3%) and are nearly dead, but the light requirement may have disappeared.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Betula p. 25. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 10, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 9, 2026.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 6 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 28 days.

24% germination in 7–28 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Betula p. 25Public domain
Show the original text
Betula (Betulaceae). Light and/or 40-70 patterns were best. B. nana germ. 70L (20%, zero order kinetics, ind. 12 d, 10%/d), 70 GA-3 (34%, zero order kinetics, ind. 12 d, 20%/d), 70D-40-70D(24% in 1-4 w), 40-70L(2%), 40- 70D(none), and 5% in OT. After 3 m DS seeds germ. 70L(38% in 2nd w) and 70D(none). The seeds were difficult to count so that the percent germinations in 70L could have been equal for seed fresh and DS 3 m. Seeds DS 1 y germ. 70L(none) and 70D(3%) and are nearly dead, but the light requirement may have disappeared.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Betula p. 25. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 24, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 12 days to germinate.

20% germination in 12 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Betula p. 25Public domain
Show the original text
Betula (Betulaceae). Light and/or 40-70 patterns were best. B. nana germ. 70L (20%, zero order kinetics, ind. 12 d, 10%/d), 70 GA-3 (34%, zero order kinetics, ind. 12 d, 20%/d), 70D-40-70D(24% in 1-4 w), 40-70L(2%), 40- 70D(none), and 5% in OT. After 3 m DS seeds germ. 70L(38% in 2nd w) and 70D(none). The seeds were difficult to count so that the percent germinations in 70L could have been equal for seed fresh and DS 3 m. Seeds DS 1 y germ. 70L(none) and 70D(3%) and are nearly dead, but the light requirement may have disappeared.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Betula p. 25. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 5

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

  1. Sow outdoors and leave it

No stated waiting before sowing.

5% germination.

This source doesn't state how long step 1 lasts.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Betula p. 25Public domain
Show the original text
Betula (Betulaceae). Light and/or 40-70 patterns were best. B. nana germ. 70L (20%, zero order kinetics, ind. 12 d, 10%/d), 70 GA-3 (34%, zero order kinetics, ind. 12 d, 20%/d), 70D-40-70D(24% in 1-4 w), 40-70L(2%), 40- 70D(none), and 5% in OT. After 3 m DS seeds germ. 70L(38% in 2nd w) and 70D(none). The seeds were difficult to count so that the percent germinations in 70L could have been equal for seed fresh and DS 3 m. Seeds DS 1 y germ. 70L(none) and 70D(3%) and are nearly dead, but the light requirement may have disappeared.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Betula p. 25. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 6

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 16, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on March 15, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 365 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 12 months from start to sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

3% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Betula p. 25Public domain
Show the original text
Betula (Betulaceae). Light and/or 40-70 patterns were best. B. nana germ. 70L (20%, zero order kinetics, ind. 12 d, 10%/d), 70 GA-3 (34%, zero order kinetics, ind. 12 d, 20%/d), 70D-40-70D(24% in 1-4 w), 40-70L(2%), 40- 70D(none), and 5% in OT. After 3 m DS seeds germ. 70L(38% in 2nd w) and 70D(none). The seeds were difficult to count so that the percent germinations in 70L could have been equal for seed fresh and DS 3 m. Seeds DS 1 y germ. 70L(none) and 70D(3%) and are nearly dead, but the light requirement may have disappeared.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Betula p. 25. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 7

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 15, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

2% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Betula p. 25Public domain
Show the original text
Betula (Betulaceae). Light and/or 40-70 patterns were best. B. nana germ. 70L (20%, zero order kinetics, ind. 12 d, 10%/d), 70 GA-3 (34%, zero order kinetics, ind. 12 d, 20%/d), 70D-40-70D(24% in 1-4 w), 40-70L(2%), 40- 70D(none), and 5% in OT. After 3 m DS seeds germ. 70L(38% in 2nd w) and 70D(none). The seeds were difficult to count so that the percent germinations in 70L could have been equal for seed fresh and DS 3 m. Seeds DS 1 y germ. 70L(none) and 70D(3%) and are nearly dead, but the light requirement may have disappeared.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Betula p. 25. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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