Plant Data
Sheet
Paper
birch, Betula
papyrifera |
|
Range
Paper
birch ranges across
Climate,
Elevation
The climate is with short cool summers and long cold winters during which the ground is covered with snow for long periods.(2) Grows at grows at moderate elevations. (1)
Local
occurrence (where, how common)
It is a pioneer tree after fire disturbance and is commonly
associated with white and black spruce and poplar. (1)
Habitat
preferences
Paper birth prefers a well-drained, sandy loam soil on cool
moisture sites. (1)
Plant
strategy type/successional stage (stress-tolerator, competitor, weedy/colonizer, seral,
late successional)
Shade-intolerant. (1)
Associated
species
Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea),Red
Maple (Acer
rubrum), Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum), Yellow Birch (Betula
alleghaniensis), White Spruce, (Picea glauca), Black
Spruce, (Picea mariana), Jack
Pine (Pinus banksiana), Bigtooth Aspen (Populus grandidentata),
Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides) (3)
May be collected as: (seed, layered, divisions, etc.)
Seed,
stem or branch cutting.
(3)
Collection
restrictions or guidelines
Some paper birch seeds may be collected from August through the following spring. (2) Collect seeds by picking or stripping the strobiles while they are still green enough to hold together and placing them directly into bags. (1)
Cuttings should be taken when shoots are still active with the base of the cutting just becoming firm. (1)
Seed
germination (needs dormancy breaking?)
Unstratified seed germinates better than stratified seed. Sow seed during late summer or fall, or in spring after four to eight weeks of cold stratification.(1)
Seed
life (can be stored, short shelf-life, long shelf-life)
Paper birch seed may be stored for at least 2 years and up to 8 years. (2)
Recommended
seed storage conditions
Room temperature if the moisture content is maintained at
less than 5 percent. For long storage such as 8 years, 2° to 4° C (35° to 40°
F) in sealed containers and at low moisture.(2)
Propagation
recommendations (plant seeds, vegetative parts, cuttings, etc.)
Picking or stripping the strobiles, spread seeds out, sowing the seeds.
Or collect cuttings and dip the cuttings in an 8000 ppm IBA talc rooting hormone before planting. (1)
Soil or medium requirements (inoculum
necessary?)
Best seed germination occurs on mineral soil. (2)
Installation
form (form, potential for successful outcomes, cost)
Seeds,
container-plants grown from seeds, green cuttings, bare root or containerized
block. Planting
out 2-year-old or older. (3)
Recommended
planting density
1,344,795-9,082,895 seeds per kilogram. (1)
Care
requirements after installed (water weekly, water once, never water, etc.)
Growth can be accelerated for both seedlings and cuttings by placing them under long, warm day conditions with good air circulation and adequate moisture and nutrition. (1)
Normal
rate of growth or spread; lifespan
Young paper birch grows rapidly. Individual trees often have a diameter of 20 cm (8 in) after 30 years. Trees mature in 60 to 70 years, and few live longer than 140 to 200 years. (2)
Sources
cited
(1) Rose,
R., C. Chachulski and D. Haase. 1996.
Propagation of
(2) Burns,
R. and B. Honkala 1990. Silvics of
(3) http://www.rook.org/earl/bwca/nature/trees/betulapap.html
Data compiled by: Yongjiang Zhang,
May 12th 2003