Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Cactus or Succulent
Origin
India, Nepal, China
North America, Southwestern United States, Mexico
Types
Betula utilis
Colville's Barrel Cactus, Long-spined Barrel Cactus, Barrel Cactus
Number of Varieties
229
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Mountains
limestone outcrops, Rocky areas, Semi desert
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-712-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
7-5
12-10
Sunset Zone
3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17
12, 13, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Pyramidal
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,220.00 cm40.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
760.00 cm13.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Tan, Brown
Yellow, Magenta
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
Medium
Slow
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Spring
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Grafting, Stem Cutting
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires watering in the growing season
Needs good drainage, Needs very little water, Water carefully
In Summer
Average Water
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
-
Fertilizers
Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize in late fall, slow-release fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Honey fungus, Leaves with brown tip, Phytophthora Root Rot, Powdery mildew, Verticillium Wilt
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Dry Conditions, waterlogging, Wet Site
Drought
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
Medium
Bold
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
Bark, Leaves
Flowers
Other Uses
Used in construction, Wood is used in construction
Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees
Container, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall
Botanical Name
BETULA utilis
ECHINOCACTUS horizonthalonius
Common Name
Himalayan Birch
Devilshead, Turk's head cactus, Blue barrel cactus, Eagle's claw, Horse maimer, Horse crippler, Visnaga meloncillo
In Hindi
हिमालय सन्टी
Blue barrel cactus
In German
Himalaya-Birke
Blau Faßkaktus
In French
bouleau de l'Himalaya
Bleu barrel cactus
In Spanish
abedul del Himalaya
biznaga Azul
In Greek
Himalayan σημύδας
Μπλε βαρέλι κάκτος
In Portuguese
bétula Himalaia
cacto de tambor azul
In Polish
Himalayan brzoza
Niebieski baryłkę kaktus
In Latin
Birch Himalayan
Blue Cactus
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Fagales
Caryophyllales
Family
Betulaceae
Cactaceae
Genus
Betula
Echinocactus
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
-
Cacteae
Subfamily
-
Cactaceae
Number of Species
3029
1
27800
👆🏻