Life Span
Biennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Shrub
Origin
Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States
Eastern Asia, Malaysia
Types
Yellow Birch, Paper Birch, River Birch
Plectranthus scutellarioides
Number of Varieties
40150
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Hills, Moist Soils
gardens, Subtropical climates, tropical environments
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-911-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9-1
-
Sunset Zone
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
-
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Bushy, Evergreen
Plant Size
Minimum Height
2,133.60 cm30.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
762.00 cm30.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Brown
-
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Black
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Green, Red, Green, Purple
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Green, Red, Green, Purple
Leaf Color in Fall
Yellow, Light Yellow, Tan
Red, Green, Purple
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Red, Green, Purple
Shape
Leaf Shape
Pinnate
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
Damp
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral, Slightly Acidic
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring
Early Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Wet Site, Pollution, Soil Compaction
Wet Site
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Cuttings, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires watering in the growing season, Water daily during growing season, Water Deeply, Water more frequently during periods of extreme drought
Requires a lot of watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Ample Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral, Slightly Acidic
Soil Type
Clay, Loam
Damp
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove branches, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove hanging branches
cut main flower spike, Cut or pinch the stems
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, fertilize twice a year, Nitrogen
Full-strength liquid fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Downy mildew, Red blotch, Stem rot
Plant Tolerance
Pollution, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
Wet Site
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
Flower Petal Number
-
-
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Medium
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Ants, Aphids, Birds
-
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes, Used for making hedges
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
Weightloss
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Nesting sites for birds, Shadow Tree, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Air purification, Provides ground cover, Soil protection, soil stabilisation
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, Arthritis, Boils, bowel syndrome, Combats Stress, Diarrhea, Dysentry, Heart problems, Kidney Stones, Osteoarthritis, Skin Disorders, Urinary tract problems
Asthma, Glaucoma, High blood pressure, Liver Protection, Weight loss
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Leaves, Sap
Leaves
Other Uses
Medicinal oil, Used as essential oil
Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, useful as a ground cover
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees
Container, Groundcover, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
BETULA nigra 'Studetec'
Plectranthus scutellarioides
Common Name
Black Birch, River Birch, Tecumseh Compact River Birch
Coleus, Painted nettle
In Hindi
काले बर्च वृक्ष
Coleus
In German
Schwarze Birke
Buntnessel
In French
Noir Bouleau
Vieux garçon
In Spanish
Negro del árbol de abedul
coleo
In Greek
Μαύρο Birch Tree
Coleus
In Portuguese
Bétula Preto
cóleus
In Polish
Czarny Brzoza
Coleus
In Latin
Niger Caerulus
Coleus
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Fagales
Lamiales
Family
Betulaceae
Lamiaceae
Genus
Betula
Coleus
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
-
Number of Species
40150
1
27800
👆🏻