Bog Birch
Betula pumila
Bog birch is a low wetland birch of fens, bogs, and calcareous wet meadows, with small round leaves and a dense twiggy form. A cold-hardy host shrub for specialized wetland habitat. Like other birches, young leaves and catkins are eaten raw, and the buds and twigs have flavored stews.
- Family
- Betulaceae
- Type
- shrub
- Lifespan
- perennial
- Height
- 20–20 ft
- Spacing
- 4–8 ft apart
- Light
- sun, part shade, shade
- Soil moisture
- moist
- Soil pH
- acidic, neutral, alkaline
- Bloom
- May
- Bloom colors
- yellow
- Wildlife value
- songbirds, larval host, pollinators
- Caterpillar hosts
- ~411 butterfly & moth species
- Landscape uses
- specimen, hedge or screen
- Native states
- CO, CT, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, MA, ME, MI, MN, MT, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, SD, WA, WI, WY
Related native plants
More Betula species
- Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis)
- Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera)
- River Birch (Betula nigra)
- Sweet Birch (Betula lenta)
- Gray Birch (Betula populifolia)
- Water Birch (Betula occidentalis)