Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Tree
Origin
Melanesia, Australia
India, Nepal, China
Types
Umbrella plant
Amate
Betula utilis
Number of Varieties
10002
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
gardens, Homesteads, Roadsides, Tropical regions, Woods
Mountains
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-155-7
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
7-5
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 23, 24
3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17
Habit
Upright/Erect
Pyramidal
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm1,220.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
460.00 cm760.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Red, Pink
Tan, Brown
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Red, Purple
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Yellow green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Light Green
Yellow
Leaf Color in Winter
Red, Purple
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Elliptic
Cordiform
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
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
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Average
Bloom Time
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall, Late Fall
Early Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Pollution, Soil Compaction
-
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Transplanting
Grafting, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Do Not over Water, Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Water occasionally
Requires watering in the growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Average Water
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize in late fall, slow-release fertilizers
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Honey fungus, Leaves with brown tip, Phytophthora Root Rot, Powdery mildew, Verticillium Wilt
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Dry Conditions, waterlogging, Wet Site
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
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
Coarse
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
-
Allergy
Dermititis
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
-
Weightloss
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Arthritis, Asthma, Headache, Rheumatoid arthritis, Stomach pain
anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, Antioxidants, Antiseptic, Carminative
Part of Plant Used
Root
Bark, Leaves
Other Uses
Employed in herbal medicine, Showy Purposes
Used in construction, Wood is used in construction
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Screening / Wind Break, Street Trees, Tropical
Feature Plant, Shade Trees
Botanical Name
SCHEFFLERA actinophylla
BETULA utilis
Common Name
Octopus Tree
Himalayan Birch
In Hindi
ऑक्टोपस पेड़
हिमालय सन्टी
In German
Octopus tree
Himalaya-Birke
In French
arbre Octopus
bouleau de l'Himalaya
In Spanish
árbol pulpo
abedul del Himalaya
In Greek
χταπόδι δέντρο
Himalayan σημύδας
In Portuguese
Octopus árvore
bétula Himalaia
In Polish
Ośmiornica drzewo
Himalayan brzoza
In Latin
polypus ligno
Birch Himalayan
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Apiales
Fagales
Family
Araliaceae
Betulaceae
Genus
Schefflera
Betula
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Aralioideae
-
Number of Species
1530
1
27800
👆🏻