Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Melanesia, Australia
Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States
Types
Umbrella plant
Amate
-
Habitat
gardens, Homesteads, Roadsides, Tropical regions, Woods
bottomlands, Depression on prairies, ditches, Floodplains, Riverbanks, stream banks, Swamps
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-15
4-9
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 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
Upright/Erect
Oval or Rounded
Flower Color
Red, Pink
Yellow, Brown
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Red, Purple
Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Light Green
Yellow, Light Yellow, Tan
Leaf Color in Winter
Red, Purple
-
Leaf Shape
Elliptic
Oval with a pointed tip and fine teeth along their edges
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, 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
Spring
Tolerances
Pollution, Soil Compaction
Wet Site, Pollution, Soil Compaction
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Transplanting
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Requirements
Do Not over Water, Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Water occasionally
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 pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, 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
Prune in the late winter or spring, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Shape and thin as needed
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, No need to fertilize every year
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Aphids, Red blotch, Sawfly Larvae
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Pollution, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
Flower Petal Number
Single
-
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Allergy
Dermititis
Asthma
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Erosion control, Wildlife
Medicinal Uses
Arthritis, Asthma, Headache, Rheumatoid arthritis, Stomach pain
-
Part of Plant Used
Root
Whole plant
Other Uses
Employed in herbal medicine, Showy Purposes
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, Houseplant, Screening / Wind Break, Street Trees, Tropical
Feature Plant, Shade Trees
Botanical Name
SCHEFFLERA actinophylla
BETULA nigra
Common Name
Octopus Tree
River Birch
In Hindi
ऑक्टोपस पेड़
River Birch
In German
Octopus tree
Fluss Birch
In French
arbre Octopus
Birch river
In Spanish
árbol pulpo
river Birch
In Greek
χταπόδι δέντρο
ποταμός Birch
In Portuguese
Octopus árvore
river Birch
In Polish
Ośmiornica drzewo
Rzeka Birch
In Latin
polypus ligno
Betula
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Family
Araliaceae
Betulaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Importance of Octopus Tree and River Birch
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Octopus Tree and River Birch. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Octopus Tree and River Birch as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of Octopus Tree is Arthritis, Asthma, Headache, Rheumatoid arthritis and Stomach pain whereas of River Birch is . Octopus Tree has beauty benefits as follows: while River Birch has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of Octopus Tree vs River Birch
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of Octopus Tree vs River Birch and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of Octopus Tree are Dermititis whereas of River Birch have Asthma respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Octopus Tree has showy fruits and River Birch has no showy fruits. Also Octopus Tree is not flowering and River Birch is not flowering . You can compare Octopus Tree and River Birch facts and facts of other plants too.