Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Cactus
Origin
India, Nepal, China
South America
Types
Betula utilis
Gymnocalycium alboareolatum , Gymnocalycium amerhauseri , Gymnocalycium andreae
Number of Varieties
254
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Mountains
Desert, Semi desert
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-79-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
7-5
12-1
Sunset Zone
3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17
13,21,22,23,24
Habit
Pyramidal
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,220.00 cm12.50 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
760.00 cm8.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Tan, Brown
creamy white, Light Pink, Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
-
Pink
Leaf Color in Spring
Yellow green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Yellow
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Cordiform
-
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
All year
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Part sun, Partial shade, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Sand, Sandy
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Sandy
Bloom Time
Early Spring
All year
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Dry Conditions, Dry soil, Full Sun, Heat Tolerance
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Grafting, Stem Cutting
Offsets
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires watering in the growing season
Do not water excessively
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
Sandy
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Dry
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Part 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, can go long without fertilizers
Pests and Diseases
Honey fungus, Leaves with brown tip, Phytophthora Root Rot, Powdery mildew, Verticillium Wilt
Mealy bugs, Root rot
Plant Tolerance
Dry Conditions, waterlogging, Wet Site
Dry soil, Full Sun, Heat Tolerance
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
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
-
Ants, Mealybugs
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Ornamental use
Beauty Benefits
Weightloss
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Food for animals, Food for birds, Food for insects
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, Antioxidants, Antiseptic, Carminative
-
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Leaves
Bark, Fruits
Other Uses
Used in construction, Wood is used in construction
Decoration Purposes
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees
Container, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Showy Tree
Botanical Name
BETULA utilis
GYMNOCALYCIUM
Common Name
Himalayan Birch
Chin Cactus
In Hindi
हिमालय सन्टी
Gymnocalycium
In German
Himalaya-Birke
Gymnocalycium
In French
bouleau de l'Himalaya
Gymnocalycium
In Spanish
abedul del Himalaya
Gymnocalycium
In Greek
Himalayan σημύδας
Gymnocalycium
In Portuguese
bétula Himalaia
Gymnocalycium
In Polish
Himalayan brzoza
Gymnocalycium
In Latin
Birch Himalayan
Gymnocalycium
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Fagales
Caryophyllales
Family
Betulaceae
Cactaceae
Genus
Betula
Gymnocalycium
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Tribe
-
Trichocereeae
Subfamily
-
Cactoideae
Number of Species
3054
1
27800
👆🏻