wetland shrub
Water birch
Betula occidentalis
1 of 2Native to the Pacific Coast, the Southwest, and the Rockies and southern Canada
Alaska, east of the Cascades to California, east to southern Manitoba, the Dakotas and northern New Mexico
- Light Full sun to shade Sun tolerance
- Moisture Moist Moisture preference
- Zones 1–9 Cold to heat range
- Bloom Apr–May Flowering time
- Height up to 30 ft to 9.1 m
- Life cycle Perennial Annual to perennial
In the garden
A wetland shrub for sun through shade and evenly moist soil. At up to 30 ft, it needs room in rain gardens, pond edges, and damp low spots. Hardy in USDA zones 1–9.
Growing conditions
Light
Full sun Partial shade Full shade
Moisture
Dry Moist Wet
Hardiness zones
Find your zone:
Pollinators & wildlife
Butterflies that use this plant
Documented host and nectar records. Each links to a planting guide for that butterfly.
- Canadian tiger swallowtailcaterpillar host
- Eastern tiger swallowtailcaterpillar host
- Mourning cloakcaterpillar host
- Red-spotted purplecaterpillar host
Full plant details
Where it grows
- Habitat
- WetlandThe wild plant community it grows in.
- Native range
- The Pacific Coast, the Southwest, and the Rockies and southern CanadaUnited States (15): AK, AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, ND, NE, NM, NV, OR, SD, UT, WA, WY. Canada (6): AB, BC, MB, NT, SK, YT. Where it grows wild on its own, by state and province.
- Native distribution
- Alaska, east of the Cascades to California, east to southern Manitoba, the Dakotas and northern New MexicoThe same native range, usually more exact than the state list, and often noting where it has spread beyond it.
Growing conditions
- Light
- Full sun to shadeHow much sun it takes, from full sun to full shade.
- Moisture
- MoistThe soil dampness it prefers, from dry to wet.
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 1–9 · Canadian 0–7The cold-to-heat climate range it survives.
- Soil
- Moist soilsThe soils it grows in naturally.
- Soil texture
- Light to heavy (sandy to clay)The soil grade it prefers, from sand to clay.
- Soil pH
- 5.5–7.8The acidity to alkalinity it tolerates (7 is neutral).
- Soil quality
- MediumHow rich a soil it needs. Many natives prefer lean soil and flop in rich beds.
- Water use
- HighHow thirsty it is, a rough guide to how often to water.
- Salinity tolerance
- NoneHow well it copes with salty soil, near roads or the coast.
- Lime (CaCO₃) tolerance
- LowHow well it copes with chalky, lime-rich soil.
Growth & form
- Height
- up to 30 ft (to 9.1 m)Typical mature height.
- Life cycle
- PerennialWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).
- Growth rate
- RapidA relative ranking versus other plants of the same type (USDA), not an absolute rate.
- Shape
- ErectIts overall silhouette.
- Root depth
- 20+ in (51+ cm)How far the roots reach, a guide to drought resilience and transplanting.
Flowers, foliage & fruit
- Type
- ShrubWhat kind of plant it is.
- Bloom
- Apr–MayWhen it flowers.
- Flower color
- Yellow, Green, BrownThe bloom color, or colors.
- Toxicity
- None knownWhether any part is poisonous to people or pets.
Propagation & seed
- Cold stratification
- Not requiredWhether seed needs a cold, moist spell before it will germinate.
- Propagation
- Bare root, container, seedHow to start new plants.
- Seed
- ~0.4 million seeds per poundNotes on the seed and how to sow it.
- Seed spread rate
- SlowHow readily it self-sows. Slow or none means well-behaved, not a spreader.
- Seedling vigor
- MediumHow strongly young seedlings establish.
- Vegetative spread
- NoneWhether it creeps outward or stays put in a clump.