American dwarf birch
Betula pumila
Last reviewed: August 2026
Light
full sun
Water
high
Size
36"–120" H × 36"–96" W
Bloom
Apr, May
Native to
CA, CO, CT, IA and 21 more states
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 431 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaA small, multi-stemmed shrub with rounded, toothed leaves and slender catkins in spring. It grows in bogs and wet, acidic soils, forming dense thickets in cold wetland habitats.
Wildlife value
Its catkins and seeds provide food for birds, and dense branching offers cover in wetland habitats.
Common questions
- How much sun does American dwarf birch need?
- American dwarf birch grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does American dwarf birch bloom?
- American dwarf birch blooms in April and May.
- Where is American dwarf birch native?
- American dwarf birch (Betula pumila) is native to CA, CO, CT, IA and 21 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
Ready to grow American dwarf birch? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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