Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Cactus or Succulent
Origin
Northern Europe, Russia/Siberia
North America, Southwestern United States, Mexico
Types
Young's weeping birch, Ornäs Birch
Colville's Barrel Cactus, Long-spined Barrel Cactus, Barrel Cactus
Habitat
Sunny Edge, Woodland Garden Canopy
limestone outcrops, Rocky areas, Semi desert
USDA Hardiness Zone
2-7
12-15
Sunset Zone
A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
12, 13, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Pyramidal
Oval or Rounded
Flower Color
Green
Yellow, Magenta
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Black
Pink, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green
-
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
-
Leaf Color in Fall
Light Yellow, Yellow green
-
Leaf Shape
Double-toothed, serrated
-
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Type of Soil
Loam
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
Tolerances
Wet Site, Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Water more in summer
Needs good drainage, Needs very little water, Water carefully
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
-
Fertilizers
General purpose granulated 30-10-10 fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Anthracnose, Birch Leafminer, Bronze Birch Borer, Slime Flux
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Medium
Bold
Attracts
Butterflies, Insects, Moths
-
Aesthetic Uses
Used in parkland
Showy Purposes
Edible Uses
Yes
Insignificant
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
anti-inflammatory, Antirheumatic, Antiseptic, Astringent, Diaphoretic, Diuretic
-
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Inner Bark, Leaves, Sap
Flowers
Other Uses
Used as a thickener in soups, Used as essential oil, used for making charcoal, Used in making tea
Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Container, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall
Botanical Name
BETULA pendula
ECHINOCACTUS horizonthalonius
Common Name
Common Birch, European White Birch, Silver Birch
Devilshead, Turk's head cactus, Blue barrel cactus, Eagle's claw, Horse maimer, Horse crippler, Visnaga meloncillo
In Hindi
Silver Birch
Blue barrel cactus
In German
Weißbirke
Blau Faßkaktus
In French
Silver Birch
Bleu barrel cactus
In Spanish
Abedul de plata
biznaga Azul
In Greek
Silver Birch
Μπλε βαρέλι κάκτος
In Portuguese
Silver Birch
cacto de tambor azul
In Polish
Silver Birch
Niebieski baryłkę kaktus
In Latin
Argentum Birch
Blue Cactus
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Fagales
Caryophyllales
Family
Betulaceae
Cactaceae
Genus
Betula
Echinocactus
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Subfamily
Betuloideae
Cactaceae
Importance of Silver Birch and Blue Barrel
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Silver Birch and Blue Barrel. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Silver Birch and Blue Barrel 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 Silver Birch is anti-inflammatory, Antirheumatic, Antiseptic, Astringent, Diaphoretic and Diuretic whereas of Blue Barrel is . Silver Birch has beauty benefits as follows: while Blue Barrel has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of Silver Birch vs Blue Barrel
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 Silver Birch vs Blue Barrel 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 Silver Birch are Pollen whereas of Blue Barrel have respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Silver Birch has no showy fruits and Blue Barrel has no showy fruits. Also Silver Birch is not flowering and Blue Barrel is flowering. You can compare Silver Birch and Blue Barrel facts and facts of other plants too.