Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Tree
Shrub
Origin
Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States
Melanesia
Types
-
-
Number of Varieties
312
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
bottomlands, Depression on prairies, ditches, Floodplains, Riverbanks, stream banks, Swamps
Subtropical climates, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-910-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9-1
12-1
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
H1, H2, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,220.00 cm240.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
1,220.00 cm180.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Brown
Red, Green, Copper
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Black
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
White, Yellow, Green, Purple, Orange, Chartreuse, Dark Green, Pink, Rose, Burgundy, Copper, Bronze
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
White, Yellow, Green, Purple, Orange, Chartreuse, Dark Green, Pink, Rose, Burgundy, Copper, Bronze
Leaf Color in Fall
Yellow, Light Yellow, Tan
White, Yellow, Green, Purple, Orange, Chartreuse, Dark Green, Pink, Rose, Burgundy, Copper, Bronze
Leaf Color in Winter
-
White, Yellow, Green, Purple, Orange, Dark Green, Pink, Rose, Burgundy, Copper, Bronze
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oval with a pointed tip and fine teeth along their edges
Reniform
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Wet Site, Pollution, Soil Compaction
Drought, Variety of soil types
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires a lot of watering, Requires regular watering
Average Water Needs
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
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
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
slow-release fertilizers
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Red blotch, Sawfly Larvae
Aphids, Mites, Soft scales
Plant Tolerance
Pollution, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
Drought, Variety of soil types
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
-
-
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Medium
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
-
Birds
Allergy
Asthma
bronchial asthma, Rhinoconjunctivitis
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Erosion control, Wildlife
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Abdominal Disease, Antibacterial, Antifungal, Cough, Headache, Kidney problems
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
Leaves, Twigs
Other Uses
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Basketary, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees
Bedding Plant, Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
BETULA nigra
ACALYPHA wilkesiana
Common Name
River Birch
Copperleaf
In Hindi
River Birch
Copperleaf
In German
Fluss Birch
Copperleaf
In French
Birch river
Copperleaf
In Spanish
river Birch
copperleaf
In Greek
ποταμός Birch
Copperleaf
In Portuguese
river Birch
Copperleaf
In Polish
Rzeka Birch
CopperLeaf
In Latin
Betula
Copperleaf
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Fagales
Euphorbiales
Family
Betulaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Genus
Betula
Acalypha
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
Acalypheae
Subfamily
-
Acalyphoideae
Number of Species
3462
1
27800
👆🏻