Life Span
Annual
Perennial
Origin
North America, Northeastern United States, North-Central United States, Alaska, Canada
Southern Africa
Types
Ornamental Tree
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Habitat
Slopes, Swamps
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
2-7
10-12
Sunset Zone
A1, A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Twisted/Contorted
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Not Available
Fruit Color
Black
Green, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Light Yellow, Gold
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Not Available
Green
Leaf Shape
Egg-shaped
Succulent
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring
Late Spring
Tolerances
Not Available
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Stem Planting
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Ample Water
In Spring
Moderate
Less Watering
In Winter
Average Water
Less Watering
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Pests and diseases free
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Flower Petal Number
Not Available
Single
Foliage Texture
Medium
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Attracts
Not Available
Butterflies
Allergy
Not Available
no allergic reactions
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
Edible Uses
Sometimes
Yes
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Medicinal Uses
Cold, Cough, Gout, Laxative, Rheumatism, Wounds
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Wood
Leaves, Stem
Other Uses
Animal Feed, Sometimes used for making wine
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Used As Indoor Plant
No
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
BETULA papyrifera
PORTULACARIA afra
Common Name
Paper Birch
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
In Hindi
Paper birch
Elephant Bush
In German
Papierbirke
Elephant Bush
In French
Le bouleau à papier
Elephant Bush
In Spanish
abedul de papel
elefante Bush
In Greek
σημύδα χαρτί
ελέφαντας Μπους
In Portuguese
vidoeiro de papel
elefante de Bush
In Polish
brzoza papieru
Elephant Bush
In Latin
Paper betula
bush elephant
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Embryophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Fagales
Caryophyllales
Family
Betulaceae
Portulacaceae
Genus
Betula
Portulacaria
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
Not Available
Not Available
Subfamily
Not Available
Portulacarioideae
Number of Species
Not Available
Not Available
Importance of Paper Birch and Elephant Bush
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Paper Birch and Elephant Bush. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Paper Birch and Elephant Bush 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 Paper Birch is Cold, Cough, Gout, Laxative, Rheumatism and Wounds whereas of Elephant Bush is Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation and Sore throat. Paper Birch has beauty benefits as follows: Not Available while Elephant Bush has beauty benefits as follows: Not Available.
Compare Facts of Paper Birch vs Elephant Bush
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 Paper Birch vs Elephant Bush 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 Paper Birch are Not Available whereas of Elephant Bush have no allergic reactions respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Paper Birch has no showy fruits and Elephant Bush has no showy fruits. Also Paper Birch is not flowering and Elephant Bush is not flowering . You can compare Paper Birch and Elephant Bush facts and facts of other plants too.