Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Tree
Origin
North America, Southwestern United States, Mexico
India, Nepal, China
Types
Colville's Barrel Cactus, Long-spined Barrel Cactus, Barrel Cactus
Betula utilis
Number of Varieties
292
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
limestone outcrops, Rocky areas, Semi desert
Mountains
USDA Hardiness Zone
12-155-7
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
7-5
Sunset Zone
12, 13, 21, 22, 23, 24
3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Pyramidal
Plant Size
Minimum Height
40.00 cm1,220.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
13.00 cm760.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Magenta
Tan, Brown
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Pink, Red
-
Leaf Color in Spring
-
Yellow green
Leaf Color in Summer
-
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
-
Yellow
Leaf Color in Winter
-
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
-
Cordiform
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
Early Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
-
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Grafting, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Needs good drainage, Needs very little water, Water carefully
Requires watering in the growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Average Water
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
-
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize in late fall, slow-release fertilizers
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Honey fungus, Leaves with brown tip, Phytophthora Root Rot, Powdery mildew, Verticillium Wilt
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Dry Conditions, waterlogging, Wet Site
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
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
Bold
Medium
Foliage Sheen
-
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
-
-
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
-
Weightloss
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, Antioxidants, Antiseptic, Carminative
Part of Plant Used
Flowers
Bark, Leaves
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant
Used in construction, Wood is used in construction
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall
Feature Plant, Shade Trees
Botanical Name
ECHINOCACTUS horizonthalonius
BETULA utilis
Common Name
Devilshead, Turk's head cactus, Blue barrel cactus, Eagle's claw, Horse maimer, Horse crippler, Visnaga meloncillo
Himalayan Birch
In Hindi
Blue barrel cactus
हिमालय सन्टी
In German
Blau Faßkaktus
Himalaya-Birke
In French
Bleu barrel cactus
bouleau de l'Himalaya
In Spanish
biznaga Azul
abedul del Himalaya
In Greek
Μπλε βαρέλι κάκτος
Himalayan σημύδας
In Portuguese
cacto de tambor azul
bétula Himalaia
In Polish
Niebieski baryłkę kaktus
Himalayan brzoza
In Latin
Blue Cactus
Birch Himalayan
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Fagales
Family
Cactaceae
Betulaceae
Genus
Echinocactus
Betula
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Cacteae
-
Subfamily
Cactaceae
-
Number of Species
2930
1
27800
👆🏻