Life Span
Perennial
Biennial
Type
Perennial
Tree
Origin
United States, Canada
Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States
Types
-
Yellow Birch, Paper Birch, River Birch
Number of Varieties
1040
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Cultivated Beds, Dappled Shade, Woodland Garden Canopy, Woodlands
Hills, Moist Soils
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-94-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9-1
9-1
Sunset Zone
-
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
Clump-Forming
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
120.00 cm2,133.60 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
120.00 cm762.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Green, Light Pink
Yellow, Brown
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Dark Purple
Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Burgundy
Yellow, Light Yellow, Tan
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Obtuse
Pinnate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Very Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Average
Bloom Time
Summer, Late Summer
Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Wet Site, Pollution, Soil Compaction
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Divison, Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
Requires watering in the growing season, Water daily during growing season, Water Deeply, Water more frequently during periods of extreme drought
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
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune in summer, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove branches, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove hanging branches
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Cadmium fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, fertilize twice a year, Nitrogen
Pests and Diseases
Mosaic viruses, Yellow Leaves
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Pollution, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
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
Coarse
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Small mammals
Ants, Aphids, Birds
Allergy
Abdominal pain, allergic reaction, cramps, Diarrhea, Nausea, Spasms, Toxic, Toxic if not prepared properly, Vomiting
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cottage Garden
-
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Food for animals, Food for birds
Air purification, Nesting sites for birds, Shadow Tree, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Anodyne, anti-inflammatory, Antirheumatic, Arthritis, Curing mumps and measles, Homeopathy
Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, Arthritis, Boils, bowel syndrome, Combats Stress, Diarrhea, Dysentry, Heart problems, Kidney Stones, Osteoarthritis, Skin Disorders, Urinary tract problems
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Fruits, Leaves
Bark, Leaves, Sap
Other Uses
Used as an insecticide, Used for its medicinal properties, Used for making soaps, Used in making blue ink
Medicinal oil, Used as essential oil
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Wildflower
Feature Plant, Shade Trees
Botanical Name
PHYTOLACCA americana
BETULA nigra 'Studetec'
Common Name
American Pokeweed, Inkberry, Pokeberry
Black Birch, River Birch, Tecumseh Compact River Birch
In Hindi
POKEBERRY
काले बर्च वृक्ष
In German
Kermesbeere
Schwarze Birke
In French
POKEBERRY
Noir Bouleau
In Spanish
Pokeberry
Negro del árbol de abedul
In Greek
POKEBERRY
Μαύρο Birch Tree
In Portuguese
POKEBERRY
Bétula Preto
In Polish
alkiermes
Czarny Brzoza
In Latin
pokeberry
Niger Caerulus
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Fagales
Family
Phytolaccaceae
Betulaceae
Genus
Phytolacca
Betula
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
-
Number of Species
3540
1
27800
👆🏻