Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Broadleaf Evergreen, Grass
  
Tree
  
Origin
Mexico
  
Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States
  
Types
Otatea acuminata ssp. acuminata, Otatea acuminata ssp. aztecorum, Otatea acuminata 'Dwarf'
  
not available
  
Habitat
Subtropical climates, tropical environments
  
bottomlands, Depression on prairies, ditches, Floodplains, Riverbanks, stream banks, Swamps
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-12
  
4-9
  
AHS Heat Zone
10 - 7
  
9-1
  
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 9, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Weeping
  
Oval or Rounded
  
Plant Size
  
  
Minimum Height
1,220.00 cm
  
33
Minimum Width
1,220.00 cm
  
14
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Non Flowering Plant
  
Yellow, Brown
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Non Fruiting Plant
  
Black
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Yellow green
  
Green, Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
  
Green, Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Yellow green
  
Yellow, Light Yellow, Tan
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Yellow green
  
Not Available
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Long linear and narrow
  
Oval with a pointed tip and fine teeth along their edges
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
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
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Average
  
Bloom Time
Not Available
  
Spring
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Wet Site, Pollution, Soil Compaction
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
Divison
  
Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Low
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Never Over-water
  
Requires a lot of watering, Requires regular watering
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Average
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Pruning
Prune every year, Prune to control growth, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
  
Prune in the late winter or spring, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Shape and thin as needed
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Requires high amount of nitrogen
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, No need to fertilize every year
  
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Mealybugs
  
Aphids, Red blotch, Sawfly Larvae
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Pollution, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
  
Flowers
None
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Not Available
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
Yes
  
Foliage Texture
Fine
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
No
  
Attracts
Mealybugs
  
Not Available
  
Allergy
Skin irritation
  
Asthma
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
  
Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
No Beauty Benefits
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
No
  
No
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Windbreak
  
Erosion control, Wildlife
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
No Medicinal Use
  
No Medicinal Use
  
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
  
Whole plant
  
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant
  
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Tropical
  
Feature Plant, Shade Trees
  
Botanical Name
OTATEA acuminata
  
BETULA nigra
  
Common Name
Clumping Bamboo, Mexican Weeping Bamboo
  
River Birch
  
In Hindi
मैक्सिकन बांस
  
River Birch
  
In German
Mexican Bambus
  
Fluss Birch
  
In French
Bamboo mexicaine
  
Birch river
  
In Spanish
bambú mexicana
  
river Birch
  
In Greek
Μεξικού μπαμπού
  
ποταμός Birch
  
In Portuguese
Bamboo Mexican
  
river Birch
  
In Polish
Mexican Bamboo
  
Rzeka Birch
  
In Latin
Mexicanus Bamboo
  
Betula
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Not Available
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Not Available
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Poales
  
Fagales
  
Family
Poaceae
  
Betulaceae
  
Genus
Otatea
  
Betula
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Number of Species
Not Available
  
Not Available