Life Span
Biennial
Annual and Perennial
Type
Tree
Grass
Origin
Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States
Africa
Types
Yellow Birch, Paper Birch, River Birch
Pennisetum glaucum
Number of Varieties
407
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Hills, Moist Soils
Sunny Edge, Warmer regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-98-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9-1
12 - 8
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
8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
2,133.60 cm90.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
762.00 cm30.50 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Brown
Brown, Purple, Purplish-black
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Black
Brown, Cream
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Purple, Dark Green, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Yellow, Light Yellow, Tan
Purple, Dark Green, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Winter
-
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Pinnate
Long Linear
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Wet Site, Pollution, Soil Compaction
-
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
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
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Pruning
Remove branches, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove hanging branches
Prune in winter, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, fertilize twice a year, Nitrogen
15-0-15, All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Alternaria Leaf Spot, eyespot, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Pollution, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
Deer resistant, 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
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
-
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Ants, Aphids, Birds
Aphids, Bees, Birds
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
along a porch, deck or patio, Beautification, Informal Hedge, Mixed Border, Showy Purposes, Wild gardens
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
Branch, Flowering Tips, Whole plant
Other Uses
Medicinal oil, Used as essential oil
Beneficial species for attracting pollinators, repels deer
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees
Bedding Plant, Container, Cutflower, Dried Flower/Everlasting, Mixed Border
Botanical Name
BETULA nigra 'Studetec'
PENNISETUM glaucum 'purple millet'
Common Name
Black Birch, River Birch, Tecumseh Compact River Birch
Millet, Pearl Millet
In Hindi
काले बर्च वृक्ष
purple millet
In German
Schwarze Birke
purple millet
In French
Noir Bouleau
millet pourpre
In Spanish
Negro del árbol de abedul
purple millet
In Greek
Μαύρο Birch Tree
purple millet
In Portuguese
Bétula Preto
purple millet
In Polish
Czarny Brzoza
purple millet
In Latin
Niger Caerulus
purple millet
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Fagales
Cyperales
Family
Betulaceae
Poaceae
Genus
Betula
Pennisetum
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Tribe
-
Paniceae
Subfamily
-
Panicoideae
Number of Species
401
1
27800
👆🏻