Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Tree
  
Vegetable
  
Origin
Northern Europe, Russia/Siberia
  
Southeastern Asia, India
  
Types
Young's weeping birch, Ornäs Birch
  
Basella rubra, L.Basella oleracea, Landw.Basella lucida, L.Basella japonica, Burm.f.Basella cordifolia,
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
Sunny Edge, Woodland Garden Canopy
  
gardens
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
2-7
  
Not Available
  
AHS Heat Zone
7-1
  
12-7
  
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
  
H1, H2, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Pyramidal
  
Vining/Climbing
  
Plant Size
  
  
Minimum Height
1,220.00 cm
  
33
Minimum Width
Not Available
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Green
  
White, Pink, Light Pink
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Black
  
Purple, Black
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green
  
Green, Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Light Yellow, Yellow green
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Not Available
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Double-toothed, serrated
  
Round
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Medium
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam
  
Clay, Loam
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Average
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Spring
  
Indeterminate
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Wet Site, Drought
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Ground
  
Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings
  
Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Water more in summer
  
Keep ground moist, Requires watering in the growing season, Water Deeply, Water less during winter
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Neutral
  
Soil Type
Loam
  
Clay, Loam
  
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
  
Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Requires very little pruning
  
Fertilizers
General purpose granulated 30-10-10 fertilizer
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Anthracnose, Birch Leafminer, Bronze Birch Borer, Slime Flux
  
Insects, Mites
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
Yes
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
Not Available
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
No
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
Yes
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
Sometimes
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Butterflies, Insects, Moths
  
Not Available
  
Allergy
Pollen
  
no allergic reactions
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Used in parkland
  
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
anti-inflammatory, Antirheumatic, Antiseptic, Astringent, Diaphoretic, Diuretic
  
Astringent
  
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Inner Bark, Leaves, Sap
  
Fruits, Leaves
  
Other Uses
Used as a thickener in soups, Used as essential oil, used for making charcoal, Used in making tea
  
Culinary use, Used As Food
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees, Street Trees
  
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
  
Botanical Name
BETULA pendula
  
BASELLA alba
  
Common Name
Common Birch, European White Birch, Silver Birch
  
Ceylon Spinach, Indian Spinach, Malabar Spinach
  
In Hindi
Silver Birch
  
भारतीय पालक
  
In German
Weißbirke
  
Indian Spinat
  
In French
Silver Birch
  
épinards indienne
  
In Spanish
Abedul de plata
  
espinaca india
  
In Greek
Silver Birch
  
Ινδικό Σπανάκι
  
In Portuguese
Silver Birch
  
espinafre indiano
  
In Polish
Silver Birch
  
Indyjski szpinak
  
In Latin
Argentum Birch
  
Spinach Indian
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Not Available
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Not Available
  
Order
Fagales
  
Caryophyllales
  
Family
Betulaceae
  
Basellaceae
  
Genus
Betula
  
Basella
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Betuloideae
  
Not Available
  
Number of Species
Not Available