Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States
United States, Southeastern United States, South-Central United States, Texas, Mexico
Habitat
bottomlands, Depression on prairies, ditches, Floodplains, Riverbanks, stream banks, Swamps
Cultivated Beds
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-9
8-11
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, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Upright/Erect
Flower Color
Yellow, Brown
Red, Magenta, Orange Red
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Black
Brown, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Yellow, Light Yellow, Tan
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Shape
Oval with a pointed tip and fine teeth along their edges
Arrowhead
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Tolerances
Wet Site, Pollution, Soil Compaction
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground, Pot
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
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
Apply 10-10-10 amount
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Red blotch, Sawfly Larvae
-
Plant Tolerance
Pollution, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
Drought
Flower Petal Number
-
Single
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Borders
Environmental Uses
Erosion control, Wildlife
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
-
Antiemetic, Diuretic, Purgative, Tonic
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
Flowers, Leaves
Other Uses
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Used as a general tonic, Used as a rat poison, Used as a vegetable
Used As Indoor Plant
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees
Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Wildflower
Botanical Name
BETULA nigra
ERYTHRINA herbacea
Common Name
River Birch
Red cardinal, Cardinal spear
In Hindi
River Birch
Red Cardinal
In German
Fluss Birch
Red Cardinal
In French
Birch river
Cardinal rouge
In Spanish
river Birch
Cárdenas
In Greek
ποταμός Birch
κόκκινο Καρδινάλιος
In Portuguese
river Birch
Cardeal vermelho
In Polish
Rzeka Birch
Red Cardinal
In Latin
Betula
Cardinalis Rubrum
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Family
Betulaceae
Fabaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Importance of River Birch and Red Cardinal
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of River Birch and Red Cardinal. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare River Birch and Red Cardinal 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 Red Cardinal is Antiemetic, Diuretic, Purgative and Tonic. River Birch has beauty benefits as follows: while Red Cardinal has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of River Birch vs Red Cardinal
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 Red Cardinal 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 Red Cardinal have Toxic respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. River Birch has no showy fruits and Red Cardinal has showy fruits. Also River Birch is not flowering and Red Cardinal is not flowering . You can compare River Birch and Red Cardinal facts and facts of other plants too.