Life Span
Annual and Perennial
Biennial
Type
Grass
Tree
Origin
Africa
Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States
Types
Pennisetum glaucum
Yellow Birch, Paper Birch, River Birch
Number of Varieties
740
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Sunny Edge, Warmer regions
Hills, Moist Soils
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-114-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12 - 8
9-1
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 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
Upright/Erect
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm2,133.60 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.50 cm762.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Brown, Purple, Purplish-black
Yellow, Brown
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Brown, Cream
Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Purple, Dark Green, Burgundy
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Purple, Dark Green, Burgundy
Yellow, Light Yellow, Tan
Leaf Color in Winter
-
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Long Linear
Pinnate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Very Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Wet Site, Pollution, Soil Compaction
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering
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
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune in winter, 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
15-0-15, All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, fertilize twice a year, Nitrogen
Pests and Diseases
Alternaria Leaf Spot, eyespot, Red blotch
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Deer resistant, Drought
Pollution, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
Flowers
Showy
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
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Aphids, Bees, Birds
Ants, Aphids, Birds
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
along a porch, deck or patio, Beautification, Informal Hedge, Mixed Border, Showy Purposes, Wild gardens
-
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Nesting sites for birds, Shadow Tree, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
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
Branch, Flowering Tips, Whole plant
Bark, Leaves, Sap
Other Uses
Beneficial species for attracting pollinators, repels deer
Medicinal oil, Used as essential oil
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Cutflower, Dried Flower/Everlasting, Mixed Border
Feature Plant, Shade Trees
Botanical Name
PENNISETUM glaucum 'purple millet'
BETULA nigra 'Studetec'
Common Name
Millet, Pearl Millet
Black Birch, River Birch, Tecumseh Compact River Birch
In Hindi
purple millet
काले बर्च वृक्ष
In German
purple millet
Schwarze Birke
In French
millet pourpre
Noir Bouleau
In Spanish
purple millet
Negro del árbol de abedul
In Greek
purple millet
Μαύρο Birch Tree
In Portuguese
purple millet
Bétula Preto
In Polish
purple millet
Czarny Brzoza
In Latin
purple millet
Niger Caerulus
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Cyperales
Fagales
Family
Poaceae
Betulaceae
Genus
Pennisetum
Betula
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Paniceae
-
Subfamily
Panicoideae
-
Number of Species
140
1
27800
👆🏻