Life Span
Annual and Perennial
Biennial
Type
Broadleaf Evergreen
Tree
Origin
North America, Europe, Asia
Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States
Types
Andromeda polifolia var. polifolia, Andromeda polifolia var. glaucophylla
Yellow Birch, Paper Birch, River Birch
Number of Varieties
240
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Bog Garden, Fens, Swamps
Hills, Moist Soils
USDA Hardiness Zone
2-64-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
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
Habit
Cushion/Mound-forming
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
33.00 cm2,133.60 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
46.00 cm762.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Pink, Light Pink
Yellow, Brown
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Gray Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Gray Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Gray Green
Yellow, Light Yellow, Tan
Leaf Color in Winter
Gray Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Long Linear
Pinnate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Slow
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam
Clay, Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Average
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer
Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Wet Site, Pollution, Soil Compaction
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Do not let dry out between waterings, Keep ground moist
Requires watering in the growing season, Water daily during growing season, Water Deeply, Water more frequently during periods of extreme drought
In Summer
Average Water, Ample Water
Lots of watering
In Spring
Ample Water
Moderate
In Winter
Not so frequently
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam
Clay, Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune for size control, Remove short twigs
Remove branches, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove hanging branches
Fertilizers
fertilize in spring
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, fertilize twice a year, Nitrogen
Pests and Diseases
-
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
-
Pollution, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
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
Fine
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
pollinators
Ants, Aphids, Birds
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
-
Air purification, Nesting sites for birds, Shadow Tree, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
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
Flowers
Bark, Leaves, Sap
Other Uses
As a tea substitute
Medicinal oil, Used as essential oil
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Bog Garden, Container, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
Feature Plant, Shade Trees
Botanical Name
ANDROMEDA polifolia
BETULA nigra 'Studetec'
Common Name
Bog Rosemary
Black Birch, River Birch, Tecumseh Compact River Birch
In Hindi
Bog Rosemary
काले बर्च वृक्ष
In German
Rosmarinheide
Schwarze Birke
In French
Andromeda polifolia
Noir Bouleau
In Spanish
Andromeda polifolia
Negro del árbol de abedul
In Greek
Bog Rosemary
Μαύρο Birch Tree
In Portuguese
Bog Rosemary
Bétula Preto
In Polish
Modrzewnica zwyczajna
Czarny Brzoza
In Latin
Bog Rosemary
Niger Caerulus
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Ericales
Fagales
Family
Ericaceae
Betulaceae
Genus
Andromeda
Betula
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Vaccinioideae
-
Number of Species
240
1
27800
👆🏻