Life Span
Biennial
Annual
Type
Tree
Tree
Origin
Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States
New Zealand
Types
Yellow Birch, Paper Birch, River Birch
Metrosideros excelsa
Number of Varieties
408
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Hills, Moist Soils
Coastal Regions, hedge rows, Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-910-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9-1
12-9
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
H1, H2, 16, 17, 23, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
2,133.60 cm910.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
762.00 cm610.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Brown
Red, Crimson
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Black
Brown, Sandy Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Light Green, Dark Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Dark Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Fall
Yellow, Light Yellow, Tan
Dark Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Dark Green, Gray
Shape
Leaf Shape
Pinnate
Acicular
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring
Late Spring, Early Summer
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
Requires regular watering
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
Soil Type
Clay, Loam
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
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 branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, fertilize twice a year, Nitrogen
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Pollution, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
Drought
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
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Ants, Aphids, Birds
Birds, Hummingbirds
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Used as Christmas tree, Used for making hedges
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
Astringent, Dysentry
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Leaves, Sap
Flowers, Wood
Other Uses
Medicinal oil, Used as essential oil
Application in Furniture
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees
Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Tropical
Botanical Name
BETULA nigra 'Studetec'
METROSIDEROS excelsa
Common Name
Black Birch, River Birch, Tecumseh Compact River Birch
New Zealand Christmas Tree, Pohutukawa
In Hindi
काले बर्च वृक्ष
pohutukawa
In German
Schwarze Birke
pohutukawa
In French
Noir Bouleau
pohutukawa
In Spanish
Negro del árbol de abedul
pohutukawa
In Greek
Μαύρο Birch Tree
pohutukawa
In Portuguese
Bétula Preto
pohutukawa
In Polish
Czarny Brzoza
pohutukawa
In Latin
Niger Caerulus
pohutukawa
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
-
Class
Magnoliopsida
-
Order
Fagales
Myrtales
Family
Betulaceae
Myrtaceae
Genus
Betula
Metrosideros
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
-
Number of Species
4012
1
27800
👆🏻