Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States
North America, United States, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Texas, Canada, Mexico
Types
-
Sorghastrum nutans
Habitat
bottomlands, Depression on prairies, ditches, Floodplains, Riverbanks, stream banks, Swamps
Grassland, low mountains, Semi desert, Woodlands
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
7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Clump-Forming
Flower Color
Yellow, Brown
-
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Light Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Yellow, Light Yellow, Tan
Blue Green, Burgundy, Copper
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Tan
Leaf Shape
Oval with a pointed tip and fine teeth along their edges
Linear
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Average
Bloom Time
Spring
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Tolerances
Wet Site, Pollution, Soil Compaction
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
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 pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Average
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 leaves, Requires very little pruning
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, No need to fertilize every year
No fertilizers needed
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Red blotch, Sawfly Larvae
Insects
Plant Tolerance
Pollution, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
Drought and Salt
Flower Petal Number
-
Single
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Allergy
Asthma
Skin irritation
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
-
Environmental Uses
Erosion control, Wildlife
Air purification
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
Whole plant
Other Uses
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees
Dried Flower/Everlasting, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Wildflower
Botanical Name
BETULA nigra
SORGHASTRUM nutans
Common Name
River Birch
Indian Grass
In Hindi
River Birch
भारतीय घास
In German
Fluss Birch
Indian Grass
In French
Birch river
Herbe indienne
In Spanish
river Birch
Hierba india
In Greek
ποταμός Birch
Ινδικό Grass
In Portuguese
river Birch
grama indianas
In Polish
Rzeka Birch
Indyjski Trawa
In Latin
Betula
Indian Grass
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Liliopsida
Family
Betulaceae
Poaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Importance of River Birch and Indian Grass
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of River Birch and Indian Grass. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare River Birch and Indian Grass 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 Indian Grass is . River Birch has beauty benefits as follows: while Indian Grass has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of River Birch vs Indian Grass
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 Indian Grass 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 Indian Grass have Skin irritation respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. River Birch has no showy fruits and Indian Grass has showy fruits. Also River Birch is not flowering and Indian Grass is not flowering . You can compare River Birch and Indian Grass facts and facts of other plants too.