Life Span
Biennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Grass
Origin
Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States
North America, United States, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Texas, Canada, Mexico
Types
Yellow Birch, Paper Birch, River Birch
Sorghastrum nutans
Number of Varieties
403
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Hills, Moist Soils
Grassland, low mountains, Semi desert, Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-94-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9-1
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
7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
2,133.60 cm90.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
762.00 cm45.70 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Brown
-
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Black
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Light Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Yellow, Light Yellow, Tan
Blue Green, Burgundy, Copper
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Tan
Shape
Leaf Shape
Pinnate
Linear
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Average
Bloom Time
Spring
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Wet Site, Pollution, Soil Compaction
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
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
Average Water Needs
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove branches, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove hanging branches
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Requires very little pruning
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, fertilize twice a year, Nitrogen
No fertilizers needed
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Insects
Plant Tolerance
Pollution, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
Drought and Salt
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
-
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Ants, Aphids, Birds
Birds
Allergy
-
Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
-
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Nesting sites for birds, Shadow Tree, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Air purification
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
-
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Leaves, Sap
Whole plant
Other Uses
Medicinal oil, Used as essential oil
Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees
Dried Flower/Everlasting, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Wildflower
Botanical Name
BETULA nigra 'Studetec'
SORGHASTRUM nutans
Common Name
Black Birch, River Birch, Tecumseh Compact River Birch
Indian Grass
In Hindi
काले बर्च वृक्ष
भारतीय घास
In German
Schwarze Birke
Indian Grass
In French
Noir Bouleau
Herbe indienne
In Spanish
Negro del árbol de abedul
Hierba india
In Greek
Μαύρο Birch Tree
Ινδικό Grass
In Portuguese
Bétula Preto
grama indianas
In Polish
Czarny Brzoza
Indyjski Trawa
In Latin
Niger Caerulus
Indian Grass
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Fagales
Poales
Family
Betulaceae
Poaceae
Genus
Betula
Sorghastrum
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
-
Number of Species
409
1
27800
👆🏻