Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Epiphyte
Tree
Origin
Southeastern United States, Latin America and the Caribbean, Caribbean, Central America, South America
North America, Northeastern United States, North-Central United States, Alaska, Canada
Types
-
Ornamental Tree
Number of Varieties
330
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Swamps
Slopes, Swamps
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-132-7
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
7-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 23, 24
A1, A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6
Habit
Clump-Forming
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.50 cm1,520.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
25.60 cm760.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Burgundy, Dark Red, Light Green, Violet, Dark Salmon
Yellow
Flower Color Modifier
Multi-Color
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Light Yellow, Gold
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Long Linear
Egg-shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Type of Soil
-
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Slightly Acidic
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall, Late Fall
Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
-
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Bulbs, By dividing rhizomes, tubers, Divison
Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Requires regular 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
Neutral, Slightly Acidic
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
-
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
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
Coarse
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, pollinators
-
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Bouquets, Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Cancer, Eye Problems
Cold, Cough, Gout, Laxative, Rheumatism, Wounds
Part of Plant Used
Bulbs, Flowers, Leaves
Leaves, Wood
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant
Animal Feed, Sometimes used for making wine
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Mixed Border
Feature Plant, Shade Trees
Botanical Name
PROSTHECHEA cochleata
BETULA papyrifera
Common Name
Clamshell Orchid, Cockleshell Orchid, Black Orchid
Paper Birch
In Hindi
Clamshell Orchid
Paper birch
In German
Clamshell Orchid
Papierbirke
In French
Clamshell Orchid
Le bouleau à papier
In Spanish
Clamshell Orchid
abedul de papel
In Greek
Encyclia Cochleata
σημύδα χαρτί
In Portuguese
Clamshell Orchid
vidoeiro de papel
In Polish
Clamshell Orchid
brzoza papieru
In Latin
Clamshell Orchid
Paper betula
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Orchidales
Fagales
Family
Orchidaceae
Betulaceae
Genus
Prosthechea
Betula
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Epidendreae
-
Subfamily
Epidendroideae
-
Number of Species
5060
1
27800
👆🏻