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Betula pendula

Common Birch · East Asian White Birch · European White Birch

Family BetulaceaeGenus Betula

A stand of white-barked birches in full green leaf above rough grass and low scrub
The whole plantPercita at FlickrCC BY-SA 2.0

About the plant

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

The plant

Habit
TreeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
treePlants of the World Online
Height
30-50 ft9-15 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
10-30 ft3-9.1 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Cream/Tan, GreenExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
SpringExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Alaska, Albania, Alberta, Altay, Amur, Argentina South and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
2-7Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow RockyExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally DryExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Watering
Drought tolerance: LowPLANTS Database

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

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

Worth knowing

  • Its open canopy lets light reach the ground, so primroses, violets, bluebells and wood anemones grow under it. Wikipedia: Betula pendula

This source reports 4 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow outdoors and leave it

    Up in April.

about 6 months from start to sowing.

10% germination.

This source doesn't state how long step 2 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. platyphylla japonica germ. best in a 40-70 or a 70L pattern. Seeds DS 6 m germ. 40-70D(8% in 6-10 d), 70L(9% in 7-11 d), 70 GA-3(6% on 9th d), 70D(none), and 10% in April in OT. Seeds DS 1 y gave about the same results, but seeds DS 2 y germ. only 3% in 2nd w in 70L.
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 Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 27, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 26, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

about 6 months from start to sowing. Then 11 days to germinate.

9% germination in 7–11 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. platyphylla japonica germ. best in a 40-70 or a 70L pattern. Seeds DS 6 m germ. 40-70D(8% in 6-10 d), 70L(9% in 7-11 d), 70 GA-3(6% on 9th d), 70D(none), and 10% in April in OT. Seeds DS 1 y gave about the same results, but seeds DS 2 y germ. only 3% in 2nd w in 70L.
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 Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around June 30, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on June 29, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  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 9 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 10 days.

8% germination in 6–10 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. platyphylla japonica germ. best in a 40-70 or a 70L pattern. Seeds DS 6 m germ. 40-70D(8% in 6-10 d), 70L(9% in 7-11 d), 70 GA-3(6% on 9th d), 70D(none), and 10% in April in OT. Seeds DS 1 y gave about the same results, but seeds DS 2 y germ. only 3% in 2nd w in 70L.
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 Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 29, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 28, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Gibberellic acid soak

  3. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

about 6 months from start to sowing. Then 9 days to germinate.

6% germination in 9 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. platyphylla japonica germ. best in a 40-70 or a 70L pattern. Seeds DS 6 m germ. 40-70D(8% in 6-10 d), 70L(9% in 7-11 d), 70 GA-3(6% on 9th d), 70D(none), and 10% in April in OT. Seeds DS 1 y gave about the same results, but seeds DS 2 y germ. only 3% in 2nd w in 70L.
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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