Life Span
Perennial
  
Annual
  
Type
Tree
  
Tender Perennial
  
Origin
Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States
  
Southeastern Asia
  
Types
not available
  
Eddoe taro, Dasheen taro
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
bottomlands, Depression on prairies, ditches, Floodplains, Riverbanks, stream banks, Swamps
  
agricultural areas, Hillside, Warm and moist climatic conditions
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-9
  
10-11
  
AHS Heat Zone
9-1
  
12-8
  
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, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Oval or Rounded
  
Clump-Forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Minimum Height
1,220.00 cm
  
33
Minimum Width
1,220.00 cm
  
14
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Yellow, Brown
  
White, Green
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Not Available
  
Fruit Color
Black
  
Red
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
  
Dark Green, Ivory
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
  
Dark Green, Ivory
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Yellow, Light Yellow, Tan
  
Dark Green, Ivory
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Not Available
  
Dark Green, Ivory
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Oval with a pointed tip and fine teeth along their edges
  
V-Shaped
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Partial shade, Full 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
No
  
No
  
Tolerances
Wet Site, Pollution, Soil Compaction
  
Heat Tolerance, Humidity, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shallow soil
  
Where to Plant?
Ground
  
Container
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings
  
From Rhizomes
  
Plant Maintenance
Low
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Requires a lot of watering, Requires regular watering
  
Needs 2-3 times watering per week, Needs a lot of water initially
  
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
  
Partial shade, Full Shade
  
Pruning
Prune in the late winter or spring, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Shape and thin as needed
  
No pruning needed
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, No need to fertilize every year
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Less fertilizing
  
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Red blotch, Sawfly Larvae
  
Aphids, Rats, Snails
  
Plant Tolerance
Pollution, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
  
Heat Tolerance, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shade areas
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Insignificant
  
Flower Petal Number
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
Yes
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Bold
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
No
  
Attracts
Not Available
  
Aphids, Bugs, Not Available, Snails
  
Allergy
Asthma
  
Swelling in mouth, Throat itching
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
  
Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Poison Ivy, Skin cleanser, Weightloss
  
Edible Uses
No
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Erosion control, Wildlife
  
No fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides needed, Prevent weeds
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
No Medicinal Use
  
Aging, Laxative, Weight loss
  
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
  
Leaf Stalks, Leaves
  
Other Uses
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
  
Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees
  
Container, Feature Plant, Groundcover, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
  
Botanical Name
BETULA nigra
  
ALOCASIA micholitziana
  
Common Name
River Birch
  
Elephant Ear, Taro
  
In Hindi
River Birch
  
अरवी
  
In German
Fluss Birch
  
Colocasia (Pflanzengattung)
  
In French
Birch river
  
Colocasia
  
In Spanish
river Birch
  
Colocasia
  
In Greek
ποταμός Birch
  
Colocasia
  
In Portuguese
river Birch
  
Colocasia
  
In Polish
Rzeka Birch
  
Kolokazja
  
In Latin
Betula
  
Colocasia
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Liliopsida
  
Order
Fagales
  
Arales
  
Family
Betulaceae
  
Araceae
  
Genus
Betula
  
Alocasia
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Angiosperms, Monocots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Colocasiodeae
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Aroideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available