River Birch vs Dwarf-Bog Birch - TreeTime.ca

River Birch vs Dwarf-Bog Birch

Betula glandulosa

Betula nigra

CUSTOM GROW

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Dwarf-Bog Birch
River Birch

Dwarf-Bog Birch is a native, cold-hardy shrub that can be found across most of Canada. Its preference for moist soils and the extensive root system make it well-suited for riparian zone plantings, soil stabilization, and erosion control projects.
It features small, round, leathery leaves with scalloped edges and produces small, cone-like catkins. A distinguishing characteristic of the Dwarf-Bog Birch is the presence of large resin glands on the branches and the undersides of the leaves. These resin glands are the reason for its scientific name, Betula glandulosa.
Note: We use Dwarf-Bog Birch for Betula glandulosa. This species is also known by many other common names, including Bog Birch, Dwarf Birch, Glandular Birch, and others. Please confirm the scientific name to ensure you are ordering the correct plant.

River Birch has beautiful, peeling, brown bark that reveals camel-colored and pink beneath. It is more borer resistant than white bark birches, which makes it a much longer-lived landscape tree.

Dwarf-Bog Birch Quick Facts

River Birch Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 3a
Height: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Height: 12 m (39 ft)
Spread: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Spread: 5 m (16 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: normal, wet
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: fast
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Growth form: spreading to prostrate, clump-forming
Spreading: seeds - medium, layering - medium
Suckering: low


Bark: reddish brown
Bark: dark gray-brown or pinkish-brown and scaly
Seeds: tiny winged seeds located within the catkins
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: yes
Catkins: yes


Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, YT, NT, NU
Other Names: dwarf birch, dwarf resin birch, glandular birch, resin birch, scrub birch, swamp birch
Other Names: black birch, water birch