{"id":"betula-occidentalis","license":"CC-BY-4.0","data":{"scientificName":"Betula occidentalis","commonNames":["Water Birch"],"taxonRank":"species","acceptedName":"Betula occidentalis","family":"Betulaceae","ids":{"usdaSymbol":"BEOC2","gbifKey":5332055,"itisTsn":19488,"wikidataQid":"Q3926712","inatTaxonId":75764},"usdaZoneMin":"1a","zoneSource":"usda-plants","states":["AK","AZ","CA","CO","ID","MT","ND","NE","NM","NV","OR","SD","UT","WA","WY"],"rangeAssertions":[{"relation":"native","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["AK"],"regions":["TDWG level 1 7 — NORTHERN AMERICA","TDWG level 2 70 — Subarctic America","TDWG level 3 ASK — Alaska"]},"occurrenceStatus":"present","presenceStatus":"extant","source":"wcvp-v16","sourceVersion":"16","asOf":"2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z"},{"relation":"native","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["AZ"],"regions":["TDWG level 1 7 — NORTHERN AMERICA","TDWG level 2 76 — Southwestern U.S.A.","TDWG level 3 ARI — Arizona"]},"occurrenceStatus":"present","presenceStatus":"extant","source":"wcvp-v16","sourceVersion":"16","asOf":"2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z"},{"relation":"native","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["CA"],"regions":["TDWG level 1 7 — NORTHERN AMERICA","TDWG level 2 76 — Southwestern U.S.A.","TDWG level 3 CAL — California"]},"occurrenceStatus":"present","presenceStatus":"extant","source":"wcvp-v16","sourceVersion":"16","asOf":"2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z"},{"relation":"native","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["CO"],"regions":["TDWG level 1 7 — NORTHERN AMERICA","TDWG level 2 73 — Northwestern U.S.A.","TDWG level 3 COL — Colorado"]},"occurrenceStatus":"present","presenceStatus":"extant","source":"wcvp-v16","sourceVersion":"16","asOf":"2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z"},{"relation":"native","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["ID"],"regions":["TDWG level 1 7 — NORTHERN AMERICA","TDWG level 2 73 — Northwestern U.S.A.","TDWG level 3 IDA — Idaho"]},"occurrenceStatus":"present","presenceStatus":"extant","source":"wcvp-v16","sourceVersion":"16","asOf":"2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z"},{"relation":"native","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["MT"],"regions":["TDWG level 1 7 — NORTHERN AMERICA","TDWG level 2 73 — Northwestern U.S.A.","TDWG level 3 MNT — Montana"]},"occurrenceStatus":"present","presenceStatus":"extant","source":"wcvp-v16","sourceVersion":"16","asOf":"2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z"},{"relation":"native","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["ND"],"regions":["TDWG level 1 7 — NORTHERN AMERICA","TDWG level 2 74 — North-Central U.S.A.","TDWG level 3 NDA — North Dakota"]},"occurrenceStatus":"present","presenceStatus":"extant","source":"wcvp-v16","sourceVersion":"16","asOf":"2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z"},{"relation":"native","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["NE"],"regions":["TDWG level 1 7 — NORTHERN AMERICA","TDWG level 2 74 — North-Central U.S.A.","TDWG level 3 NEB — Nebraska"]},"occurrenceStatus":"present","presenceStatus":"extant","source":"wcvp-v16","sourceVersion":"16","asOf":"2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z"},{"relation":"native","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["NM"],"regions":["TDWG level 1 7 — NORTHERN AMERICA","TDWG level 2 77 — South-Central U.S.A.","TDWG level 3 NWM — New Mexico"]},"occurrenceStatus":"present","presenceStatus":"extant","source":"wcvp-v16","sourceVersion":"16","asOf":"2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z"},{"relation":"native","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["NV"],"regions":["TDWG level 1 7 — NORTHERN AMERICA","TDWG level 2 76 — Southwestern U.S.A.","TDWG level 3 NEV — Nevada"]},"occurrenceStatus":"present","presenceStatus":"extant","source":"wcvp-v16","sourceVersion":"16","asOf":"2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z"},{"relation":"native","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["OR"],"regions":["TDWG level 1 7 — NORTHERN AMERICA","TDWG level 2 73 — Northwestern U.S.A.","TDWG level 3 ORE — Oregon"]},"occurrenceStatus":"present","presenceStatus":"extant","source":"wcvp-v16","sourceVersion":"16","asOf":"2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z"},{"relation":"native","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["SD"],"regions":["TDWG level 1 7 — NORTHERN AMERICA","TDWG level 2 74 — North-Central U.S.A.","TDWG level 3 SDA — South Dakota"]},"occurrenceStatus":"present","presenceStatus":"extant","source":"wcvp-v16","sourceVersion":"16","asOf":"2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z"},{"relation":"native","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["UT"],"regions":["TDWG level 1 7 — NORTHERN AMERICA","TDWG level 2 76 — Southwestern U.S.A.","TDWG level 3 UTA — Utah"]},"occurrenceStatus":"present","presenceStatus":"extant","source":"wcvp-v16","sourceVersion":"16","asOf":"2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z"},{"relation":"native","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["WA"],"regions":["TDWG level 1 7 — NORTHERN AMERICA","TDWG level 2 73 — Northwestern U.S.A.","TDWG level 3 WAS — Washington"]},"occurrenceStatus":"present","presenceStatus":"extant","source":"wcvp-v16","sourceVersion":"16","asOf":"2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z"},{"relation":"native","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["WY"],"regions":["TDWG level 1 7 — NORTHERN AMERICA","TDWG level 2 73 — Northwestern U.S.A.","TDWG level 3 WYO — Wyoming"]},"occurrenceStatus":"present","presenceStatus":"extant","source":"wcvp-v16","sourceVersion":"16","asOf":"2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z"}],"hardinessAssertions":[{"interpretation":"minimum-threshold","precision":"half-zone","zoneMapping":"below-published-scale","sourceMeasurement":{"kind":"minimum-temperature","value":-62,"unit":"degrees-fahrenheit"},"applicability":"applicable","source":"usda-plants-characteristics","sourceRecordId":"BEOC2","sourceTaxon":"Betula occidentalis","taxonMatch":"source-identifier","sourcePlacement":"PlantCharacteristics record 69998, Temperature, Minimum (°F)","sourceVersion":"PLANTS Help Document 2022; characteristics cache retrieved 2026-08-23","asOf":"2026-08-26T00:00:00.000Z"}],"plantForm":"tree","matureHeightFt":25,"waterNeed":"high","photo":{"file":"/images/plants/betula-occidentalis.jpg","sourceUrl":"https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/130873119","observationUrl":"https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/79880505","license":"cc-by","attribution":"(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY)","fetchedOn":"2026-08-23T00:00:00.000Z"},"evidence":[{"source":"idaho-firewise-master-db","verdict":"mixed","verdictRaw":"fire-resistance score 4 of 10","score":{"value":4,"scale":"idaho-0-10"},"sourcePlacement":{"value":"plantable at 70' from home","scheme":"idaho-distance"},"url":"https://idahofirewise.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/FireXResistanceXofXPlantsXMasterXDatabase.pdf","accessedOn":"2026-08-23T00:00:00.000Z"},{"source":"firesmart-bc","verdict":"recommend","verdictRaw":"FireSmart-approved fire-resistant plant","sourcePlacement":{"value":"suitable for HIZ extended zone and beyond","scheme":"firesmart-hiz"},"url":"https://firesmartbc.ca/landscaping-hub/fire-resistant-plants/","accessedOn":"2026-08-23T00:00:00.000Z"},{"source":"unr-compilation-good-plant-choices","verdict":"recommend","verdictRaw":"listed by at least two cited sources","claims":"Compilation marks: AZ1289, CSU 6.305.","edition":"SP-05-16 (2005)","url":"https://extension.unr.edu/publication.aspx?PubID=4762","documentDate":"2005-01-01T00:00:00.000Z","accessedOn":"2026-08-24T00:00:00.000Z"},{"source":"ua-az1289","verdict":"recommend","verdictRaw":"listed FIREWISE plant material","claims":"Listed among fire-resistant plant materials for Arizona above 3,000 feet.","edition":"2011 revision","url":"https://extension.arizona.edu/sites/extension.arizona.edu/files/pubs/az1289.pdf","documentDate":"2011-12-01T00:00:00.000Z","accessedOn":"2026-08-24T00:00:00.000Z"},{"source":"nm-emnrd-firewise-plant-list","verdict":"recommend","verdictRaw":"FireWise Plant List for New Mexico","claims":"Listed as Betula occidentalis (Water birch) in Trees and Large Shrubs. Printed elevation cells: 4,000 ft=?, 5,000 ft=Y, 6,000 ft=Y, 7,000 ft=Y, 8,000 ft=Y, 9,000+ ft=?. Water need: H; sun/shade: S/PS; mature height: 6-10’; approximate bloom: n/a.","plantPart":"whole-plant","sourcePlacement":{"value":"PDF page 3, Trees and Large Shrubs, p3-r07","scheme":"nm-emnrd-firewise-table-row"},"edition":"2003 Forestry Division PDF","url":"https://www.emnrd.nm.gov/sfd/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/Wui_plantlist.pdf","documentDate":"2003-10-08T00:00:00.000Z","accessedOn":"2026-08-26T00:00:00.000Z"}],"flammabilityClass":"mixed-evidence","ratingReason":"mid-scale","recommendation":"candidate","author":"grayson-graham","reviewStatus":"draft","lastVerified":"2026-08-23T00:00:00.000Z","reviewNotes":"Photo auto-selected (top-voted iNat); human review pending."},"localAssessmentInputs":{"stateDistribution":["AK","AZ","CA","CO","ID","MT","ND","NE","NM","NV","OR","SD","UT","WA","WY"],"nativeStates":[],"rangeAssertions":[{"relation":"native","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["AK"],"regions":["TDWG level 1 7 — NORTHERN AMERICA","TDWG level 2 70 — Subarctic America","TDWG level 3 ASK — Alaska"]},"occurrenceStatus":"present","presenceStatus":"extant","source":"wcvp-v16","sourceVersion":"16","asOf":"2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z","provenance":"cited"},{"relation":"native","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["AZ"],"regions":["TDWG level 1 7 — NORTHERN AMERICA","TDWG level 2 76 — Southwestern U.S.A.","TDWG level 3 ARI — Arizona"]},"occurrenceStatus":"present","presenceStatus":"extant","source":"wcvp-v16","sourceVersion":"16","asOf":"2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z","provenance":"cited"},{"relation":"native","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["CA"],"regions":["TDWG level 1 7 — NORTHERN AMERICA","TDWG level 2 76 — Southwestern U.S.A.","TDWG level 3 CAL — California"]},"occurrenceStatus":"present","presenceStatus":"extant","source":"wcvp-v16","sourceVersion":"16","asOf":"2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z","provenance":"cited"},{"relation":"native","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["CO"],"regions":["TDWG level 1 7 — NORTHERN AMERICA","TDWG level 2 73 — Northwestern U.S.A.","TDWG level 3 COL — Colorado"]},"occurrenceStatus":"present","presenceStatus":"extant","source":"wcvp-v16","sourceVersion":"16","asOf":"2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z","provenance":"cited"},{"relation":"native","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["ID"],"regions":["TDWG level 1 7 — NORTHERN AMERICA","TDWG level 2 73 — Northwestern U.S.A.","TDWG level 3 IDA — Idaho"]},"occurrenceStatus":"present","presenceStatus":"extant","source":"wcvp-v16","sourceVersion":"16","asOf":"2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z","provenance":"cited"},{"relation":"native","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["MT"],"regions":["TDWG level 1 7 — NORTHERN AMERICA","TDWG level 2 73 — Northwestern U.S.A.","TDWG level 3 MNT — Montana"]},"occurrenceStatus":"present","presenceStatus":"extant","source":"wcvp-v16","sourceVersion":"16","asOf":"2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z","provenance":"cited"},{"relation":"native","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["ND"],"regions":["TDWG level 1 7 — NORTHERN AMERICA","TDWG level 2 74 — North-Central U.S.A.","TDWG level 3 NDA — North Dakota"]},"occurrenceStatus":"present","presenceStatus":"extant","source":"wcvp-v16","sourceVersion":"16","asOf":"2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z","provenance":"cited"},{"relation":"native","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["NE"],"regions":["TDWG level 1 7 — NORTHERN AMERICA","TDWG level 2 74 — North-Central U.S.A.","TDWG level 3 NEB — Nebraska"]},"occurrenceStatus":"present","presenceStatus":"extant","source":"wcvp-v16","sourceVersion":"16","asOf":"2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z","provenance":"cited"},{"relation":"native","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["NM"],"regions":["TDWG level 1 7 — NORTHERN AMERICA","TDWG level 2 77 — South-Central U.S.A.","TDWG level 3 NWM — New Mexico"]},"occurrenceStatus":"present","presenceStatus":"extant","source":"wcvp-v16","sourceVersion":"16","asOf":"2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z","provenance":"cited"},{"relation":"native","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["NV"],"regions":["TDWG level 1 7 — NORTHERN AMERICA","TDWG level 2 76 — Southwestern U.S.A.","TDWG level 3 NEV — Nevada"]},"occurrenceStatus":"present","presenceStatus":"extant","source":"wcvp-v16","sourceVersion":"16","asOf":"2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z","provenance":"cited"},{"relation":"native","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["OR"],"regions":["TDWG level 1 7 — NORTHERN AMERICA","TDWG level 2 73 — Northwestern U.S.A.","TDWG level 3 ORE — Oregon"]},"occurrenceStatus":"present","presenceStatus":"extant","source":"wcvp-v16","sourceVersion":"16","asOf":"2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z","provenance":"cited"},{"relation":"native","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["SD"],"regions":["TDWG level 1 7 — NORTHERN AMERICA","TDWG level 2 74 — North-Central U.S.A.","TDWG level 3 SDA — South Dakota"]},"occurrenceStatus":"present","presenceStatus":"extant","source":"wcvp-v16","sourceVersion":"16","asOf":"2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z","provenance":"cited"},{"relation":"native","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["UT"],"regions":["TDWG level 1 7 — NORTHERN AMERICA","TDWG level 2 76 — Southwestern U.S.A.","TDWG level 3 UTA — Utah"]},"occurrenceStatus":"present","presenceStatus":"extant","source":"wcvp-v16","sourceVersion":"16","asOf":"2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z","provenance":"cited"},{"relation":"native","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["WA"],"regions":["TDWG level 1 7 — NORTHERN AMERICA","TDWG level 2 73 — Northwestern U.S.A.","TDWG level 3 WAS — Washington"]},"occurrenceStatus":"present","presenceStatus":"extant","source":"wcvp-v16","sourceVersion":"16","asOf":"2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z","provenance":"cited"},{"relation":"native","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["WY"],"regions":["TDWG level 1 7 — NORTHERN AMERICA","TDWG level 2 73 — Northwestern U.S.A.","TDWG level 3 WYO — Wyoming"]},"occurrenceStatus":"present","presenceStatus":"extant","source":"wcvp-v16","sourceVersion":"16","asOf":"2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z","provenance":"cited"},{"relation":"documented-occurrence","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["AK","AZ","CA","CO","ID","MT","ND","NE","NM","NV","OR","SD","UT","WA","WY"]},"provenance":"legacy-field"}],"usdaZoneMin":"1a","usdaZoneMax":null,"hardinessAssertions":[{"interpretation":"minimum-threshold","precision":"half-zone","zoneMapping":"below-published-scale","sourceMeasurement":{"kind":"minimum-temperature","value":-62,"unit":"degrees-fahrenheit"},"applicability":"applicable","source":"usda-plants-characteristics","sourceRecordId":"BEOC2","sourceTaxon":"Betula occidentalis","taxonMatch":"source-identifier","sourcePlacement":"PlantCharacteristics record 69998, Temperature, Minimum (°F)","sourceVersion":"PLANTS Help Document 2022; characteristics cache retrieved 2026-08-23","asOf":"2026-08-26T00:00:00.000Z","provenance":"cited"}],"hardinessSelection":{"status":"selected","assertion":{"interpretation":"minimum-threshold","precision":"half-zone","zoneMapping":"below-published-scale","sourceMeasurement":{"kind":"minimum-temperature","value":-62,"unit":"degrees-fahrenheit"},"applicability":"applicable","source":"usda-plants-characteristics","sourceRecordId":"BEOC2","sourceTaxon":"Betula occidentalis","taxonMatch":"source-identifier","sourcePlacement":"PlantCharacteristics record 69998, Temperature, Minimum (°F)","sourceVersion":"PLANTS Help Document 2022; characteristics cache retrieved 2026-08-23","asOf":"2026-08-26T00:00:00.000Z","provenance":"cited"},"assertions":[{"interpretation":"minimum-threshold","precision":"half-zone","zoneMapping":"below-published-scale","sourceMeasurement":{"kind":"minimum-temperature","value":-62,"unit":"degrees-fahrenheit"},"applicability":"applicable","source":"usda-plants-characteristics","sourceRecordId":"BEOC2","sourceTaxon":"Betula occidentalis","taxonMatch":"source-identifier","sourcePlacement":"PlantCharacteristics record 69998, Temperature, Minimum (°F)","sourceVersion":"PLANTS Help Document 2022; characteristics cache retrieved 2026-08-23","asOf":"2026-08-26T00:00:00.000Z","provenance":"cited"}]},"invasiveIn":[],"statusAssertions":[],"fireEvidenceClass":"mixed-evidence","recommendation":"candidate","fireSourceScopes":[{"source":"idaho-firewise-master-db","sourceName":"Fire Resistance of Plants Master Database","sourceUrl":"https://idahofirewise.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/FireXResistanceXofXPlantsXMasterXDatabase.pdf","geography":{"grain":"aggregate-region","stateCodes":["ID"],"regions":["Southern Idaho"]},"completeness":"partial","reviewStatus":"reviewed","scope":"The official database labels itself \"For Southern Idaho\" and describes Idaho residents at the urban-rangeland interface. FireApproved publishes 419 existing plant owners that cite its scored rows. This bounded Southern Idaho scope is regional context, not statewide coverage or a conclusion that the score transfers unchanged to every Idaho site.","sourceVersion":"Idaho-Firewise-Southern-Idaho-Master-2013-11-08","asOf":"2013-11-08T00:00:00.000Z"},{"source":"nm-emnrd-firewise-plant-list","sourceName":"FireWise Plant List for New Mexico","sourceUrl":"https://www.emnrd.nm.gov/sfd/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/Wui_plantlist.pdf","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["NM"]},"completeness":"partial","reviewStatus":"reviewed","scope":"New Mexico Forestry Division publishes this as its FireWise Plant List for New Mexico. FireApproved accounts for all 140 printed rows and publishes 95 exact same-rank owners already represented in the directory; 29 exact taxa without an existing record, 14 unresolved spellings or higher-rank matches, one compound taxon cell, and one species row whose only apparent owner has an infraspecific printed identity remain held. Every published row retains the source's Y, N, ?, or blank elevation cells. Publication scope does not erase those elevation limits or establish suitability for every New Mexico site.","sourceVersion":"NM-EMNRD-Forestry-WUI-Plant-List-2003-10-08","asOf":"2003-10-08T00:00:00.000Z"},{"source":"ua-az1289","sourceName":"FIREWISE Plant Materials for 3,000 ft. and Higher Elevations (AZ1289)","sourceUrl":"https://extension.arizona.edu/sites/extension.arizona.edu/files/pubs/az1289.pdf","geography":{"grain":"aggregate-region","stateCodes":["AZ"],"regions":["Arizona at or above 3,000 feet"]},"completeness":"partial","reviewStatus":"reviewed","scope":"AZ1289 is explicitly limited to Arizona elevations of 3,000 feet and higher. FireApproved publishes 69 exact owners as regional Arizona context, retaining every water and elevation condition. It is never promoted to statewide low-desert guidance or an independent Tier 1 vote.","sourceVersion":"UA-Extension-AZ1289-2011-12","asOf":"2011-12-01T00:00:00.000Z"},{"source":"unr-compilation-good-plant-choices","sourceName":"A Compilation of Good Plant Choices for Nevada's High Fire Hazard Areas (SP-05-16)","sourceUrl":"https://extension.unr.edu/publication.aspx?PubID=4762","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["NV"]},"completeness":"partial","reviewStatus":"reviewed","scope":"University of Nevada Cooperative Extension compiled plants suited to Nevada climate zones and reported favorably by at least two upstream firewise lists. FireApproved publishes 126 exact source owners at Nevada publication scope. The source explicitly makes no independent flammability determination, so these rows remain corroborative.","sourceVersion":"UNR-Extension-SP-05-16-2005","asOf":"2005-01-01T00:00:00.000Z"}],"firePerformanceConditions":[],"maintenanceAssertions":[],"maintenanceConditions":null,"regulatoryReviews":{},"seedReviews":{}},"legacyCompatibilityProjection":{"nativeStates":["AK","AZ","CA","CO","ID","MT","ND","NE","NM","NV","OR","SD","UT","WA","WY"],"invasiveIn":[]},"localAssessmentContract":"Compare each dimension separately. State noxious-weed seed designations are material-scoped and never become non-seed plant restrictions, ecological-invasive findings, nursery restrictions, alternatives, product evidence, or fire votes. Introduced/established context is not an invasive warning. Minimum-only hardiness has no inferred maximum; canonical source-temperature conversion is validated and contradictory applicable rows project no primary zone. L48 context applies only to conterminous states and is never exact-state status. Fire-performance conditions are not maintenance advice. FEIS fire-ecology context does not vote in the plant classification. Absence of a status row is not regulatory clearance."}