Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Perennial, Shrub
Origin
India, Nepal, China
Northwestern United States, Canada
Types
Betula utilis
sharpleaf penstemon, white-margined beardtongue, lowland beardtongue
Number of Varieties
278
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Mountains
foothill woods, High elevation, Open areas, Rocky areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-74-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
7-5
9-1
Sunset Zone
3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15
Habit
Pyramidal
Mat-forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,220.00 cm45.72 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
760.00 cm40.64 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Tan, Brown
Purple
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Yellow green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Yellow
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Cordiform
Narrow and lance shape
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
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Spring
Late Spring, Early Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Grafting, Stem Cutting
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires watering in the growing season
Needs less watering, Requires regular watering, Water occasionally
In Summer
Average Water
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
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
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
Insignificant
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
Medium
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
-
Hummingbirds, Butterflies
Allergy
-
Asthma, Pollen
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Weightloss
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Wildlife
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, Antioxidants, Antiseptic, Carminative
Recovering internal injuries, Wounds
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Leaves
Flowers
Other Uses
Used in construction, Wood is used in construction
Container, Used as Ornamental plant, Veterinarian uses
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees
Alpine, Container, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Wildflower
Botanical Name
BETULA utilis
PENSTEMON fruticosus 'Purple Haze'
Common Name
Himalayan Birch
Bush Penstemon, Shrubby Penstemon
In Hindi
हिमालय सन्टी
Bush Penstemon
In German
Himalaya-Birke
Bush Penstemon
In French
bouleau de l'Himalaya
Bush Penstemon
In Spanish
abedul del Himalaya
Bush Penstemon
In Greek
Himalayan σημύδας
Μπους Penstemon
In Portuguese
bétula Himalaia
Bush, Penstemon
In Polish
Himalayan brzoza
Bush Penstemon
In Latin
Birch Himalayan
Persicaria Bush
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Fagales
Scrophulariales
Family
Betulaceae
Scrophulariaceae
Genus
Betula
Penstemon
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
-
Number of Species
30250
1
27800
👆🏻