Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Tender Perennial
Origin
India, Nepal, China
India
Types
Betula utilis
Green cardamom, Black cardamom
Number of Varieties
2-
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Mountains
Forests, Mountains
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-710-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
7-5
-
Sunset Zone
3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17
H1, H2, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Pyramidal
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,220.00 cm30.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
760.00 cm45.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Tan, Brown
Light Yellow, Ivory
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Dark Red, Brown, Sienna
Leaf Color in Spring
Yellow green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Yellow
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Cordiform
Lanceolate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial shade, Full Shade
Growth Rate
Medium
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Spring
-
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Grafting, Stem Cutting
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires watering in the growing season
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
In Summer
Average Water
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial shade, Full Shade
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
Mosaic viruses, Nematodes, Red blotch, Thripes
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
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
-
Aphids, Insects
Allergy
-
Skin rash
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
-
Beauty Benefits
Weightloss
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, Antioxidants, Antiseptic, Carminative
anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, Antioxidants, Aphrodisiac, Cold, Diuretic, Fights Depression
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Leaves
Pods, Seeds
Other Uses
Used in construction, Wood is used in construction
Used for its medicinal properties, Used as a spice
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees
Edible, Herb / Vegetable, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
BETULA utilis
ELETTARIA cardamomum
Common Name
Himalayan Birch
Cardamom
In Hindi
हिमालय सन्टी
इलायची
In German
Himalaya-Birke
Kardamom
In French
bouleau de l'Himalaya
Cardamome
In Spanish
abedul del Himalaya
Cardamomo
In Greek
Himalayan σημύδας
Κάρδαμο
In Portuguese
bétula Himalaia
Cardamomo
In Polish
Himalayan brzoza
Kardamon
In Latin
Birch Himalayan
Cardamom
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Fagales
Zingiberales
Family
Betulaceae
Zingiberaceae
Genus
Betula
Elettaria
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
-
Number of Species
30376
1
27800
👆🏻