Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Tree
  
Tree
  
Origin
Caribbean, Central America, South America
  
Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States
  
Types
Alaskan blueberry, Lowbush blueberry, New Jersey blueberry
  
not available
  
Habitat
Dappled Shade, Sunny Edge, Woodland Garden Canopy
  
bottomlands, Depression on prairies, ditches, Floodplains, Riverbanks, stream banks, Swamps
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-15
  
4-9
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
  
9-1
  
Sunset Zone
Not Available
  
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
  
Oval or Rounded
  
Plant Size
  
  
Minimum Height
1,220.00 cm
  
33
Minimum Width
1,220.00 cm
  
14
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White
  
Yellow, Brown
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Dark Blue, Black
  
Black
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
  
Green, Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
  
Green, Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
  
Yellow, Light Yellow, Tan
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
  
Not Available
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Pinnate
  
Oval with a pointed tip and fine teeth along their edges
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Medium
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Average
  
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
  
Spring
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
No
  
Tolerances
Not Available
  
Wet Site, Pollution, Soil Compaction
  
Where to Plant?
Ground
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
  
Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Low
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
  
Requires a lot of watering, 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
Loam
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Average
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Pruning
Prune in early spring, Remove branches, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove deadheads
  
Prune in the late winter or spring, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Shape and thin as needed
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Ammonia sulphate, In Late summer, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium, Potassium sulphate
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, No need to fertilize every year
  
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
  
Aphids, Red blotch, Sawfly Larvae
  
Plant Tolerance
Not Available
  
Pollution, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
  
Flowers
Insignificant
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Not Available
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
No
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
Yes
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
No
  
Attracts
Birds
  
Not Available
  
Allergy
Pollen
  
Asthma
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
  
Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin and hair, Speed hair growth, Weightloss
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
No
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Erosion control, Wildlife
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Astringent, Pectoral
  
No Medicinal Use
  
Part of Plant Used
Fruits
  
Whole plant
  
Other Uses
Used in making tea
  
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Shade Trees, Tropical
  
Feature Plant, Shade Trees
  
Botanical Name
SYMPLOCOS martinicensis
  
BETULA nigra
  
Common Name
Blue Berry, Horse Sugar, Martinique Sweetleaf, Whitewood
  
River Birch
  
In Hindi
Blue Berry Tree
  
River Birch
  
In German
Blue Berry Baum
  
Fluss Birch
  
In French
Bleu Berry Tree
  
Birch river
  
In Spanish
Árbol de la baya azul
  
river Birch
  
In Greek
Μπλε δέντρο μούρων
  
ποταμός Birch
  
In Portuguese
Árvore Berry Azul
  
river Birch
  
In Polish
Niebieski Berry Drzewo
  
Rzeka Birch
  
In Latin
Berry lignum blue
  
Betula
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Ebenales
  
Fagales
  
Family
Symplocaceae
  
Betulaceae
  
Genus
Symplocos
  
Betula
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Number of Species
Not Available