Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Perennial, Shrub
Origin
Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States
Northwestern United States, Canada
Types
-
sharpleaf penstemon, white-margined beardtongue, lowland beardtongue
Habitat
bottomlands, Depression on prairies, ditches, Floodplains, Riverbanks, stream banks, Swamps
foothill woods, High elevation, Open areas, Rocky areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-9
4-9
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
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Mat-forming
Flower Color
Yellow, Brown
Purple
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Yellow, Light Yellow, Tan
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Dark Green
Leaf Shape
Oval with a pointed tip and fine teeth along their edges
Narrow and lance shape
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring
Late Spring, Early Summer
Tolerances
Wet Site, Pollution, Soil Compaction
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Requirements
Requires a lot of watering, Requires regular watering
Needs less watering, Requires regular watering, Water occasionally
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune in the late winter or spring, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Shape and thin as needed
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, No need to fertilize every year
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Red blotch, Sawfly Larvae
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Pollution, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
Drought
Flower Petal Number
-
Single
Foliage Texture
Medium
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Attracts
-
Hummingbirds, Butterflies
Allergy
Asthma
Asthma, Pollen
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Environmental Uses
Erosion control, Wildlife
Air purification, Wildlife
Medicinal Uses
-
Recovering internal injuries, Wounds
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
Flowers
Other Uses
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Container, Used as Ornamental plant, Veterinarian uses
Used As Indoor Plant
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees
Alpine, Container, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Wildflower
Botanical Name
BETULA nigra
PENSTEMON fruticosus 'Purple Haze'
Common Name
River Birch
Bush Penstemon, Shrubby Penstemon
In Hindi
River Birch
Bush Penstemon
In German
Fluss Birch
Bush Penstemon
In French
Birch river
Bush Penstemon
In Spanish
river Birch
Bush Penstemon
In Greek
ποταμός Birch
Μπους Penstemon
In Portuguese
river Birch
Bush, Penstemon
In Polish
Rzeka Birch
Bush Penstemon
In Latin
Betula
Persicaria Bush
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Fagales
Scrophulariales
Family
Betulaceae
Scrophulariaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Importance of River Birch and Bush Penstemon
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of River Birch and Bush Penstemon. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare River Birch and Bush Penstemon 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 River Birch is whereas of Bush Penstemon is Recovering internal injuries and Wounds. River Birch has beauty benefits as follows: while Bush Penstemon has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of River Birch vs Bush Penstemon
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 River Birch vs Bush Penstemon 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 River Birch are Asthma whereas of Bush Penstemon have Asthma and Pollen respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. River Birch has no showy fruits and Bush Penstemon has no showy fruits. Also River Birch is not flowering and Bush Penstemon is not flowering . You can compare River Birch and Bush Penstemon facts and facts of other plants too.