Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Succulent
Tree
Origin
Southern Africa
Northern Europe, Russia/Siberia
Types
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Young's weeping birch, Ornäs Birch
Number of Varieties
3060
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
Sunny Edge, Woodland Garden Canopy
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-122-7
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-1
7-1
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Twisted/Contorted
Pyramidal
Plant Size
Minimum Height
250.00 cm1,220.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
121.00 cm610.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Pink
Green
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Red
Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Light Yellow, Yellow green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Double-toothed, serrated
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
Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Late Spring
Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Wet Site, Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
Water more in summer
In Summer
Ample Water
Lots of watering
In Spring
Less Watering
Moderate
In Winter
Less Watering
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
General purpose granulated 30-10-10 fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free
Anthracnose, Birch Leafminer, Bronze Birch Borer, Slime Flux
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
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
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies
Butterflies, Insects, Moths
Allergy
-
Pollen
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Used in parkland
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
anti-inflammatory, Antirheumatic, Antiseptic, Astringent, Diaphoretic, Diuretic
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Stem
Flowers, Inner Bark, Leaves, Sap
Other Uses
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Used as a thickener in soups, Used as essential oil, used for making charcoal, Used in making tea
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Feature Plant, Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Botanical Name
PORTULACARIA afra
BETULA pendula
Common Name
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
Common Birch, European White Birch, Silver Birch
In Hindi
Elephant Bush
Silver Birch
In German
Elephant Bush
Weißbirke
In French
Elephant Bush
Silver Birch
In Spanish
elefante Bush
Abedul de plata
In Greek
ελέφαντας Μπους
Silver Birch
In Portuguese
elefante de Bush
Silver Birch
In Polish
Elephant Bush
Silver Birch
In Latin
bush elephant
Argentum Birch
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Embryophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Fagales
Family
Portulacaceae
Betulaceae
Genus
Portulacaria
Betula
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Portulacarioideae
Betuloideae
Number of Species
160
1
27800
👆🏻