Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Herbs
Origin
Northern Europe, Russia/Siberia
Southern Europe
Types
Young's weeping birch, Ornäs Birch
Melissa officinalis
Number of Varieties
605
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Sunny Edge, Woodland Garden Canopy
Dappled Shade, Mediterranean region, Shady Edge, Woodland Garden
USDA Hardiness Zone
2-74-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
7-1
12-1
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
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
Habit
Pyramidal
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,220.00 cm30.50 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
610.00 cm45.70 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Green
White, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Black
Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Light Yellow, Yellow green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Double-toothed, serrated
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Wet Site, Drought
Deer resistant, Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Cuttings, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Water more in summer
Medium
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
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
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead flowers, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
General purpose granulated 30-10-10 fertilizer
Nitrogen, Potassium
Pests and Diseases
Anthracnose, Birch Leafminer, Bronze Birch Borer, Slime Flux
Gray leaf blight, Gray mold, Leaf spot, Powdery mildew
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Deer resistant, Drought
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies, Insects, Moths
Bees
Allergy
Pollen
Avoid during Pregnancy, Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Used in parkland
Beautification, Cottage Garden
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin, Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Deer resistant, Insect Repellent
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
anti-inflammatory, Antirheumatic, Antiseptic, Astringent, Diaphoretic, Diuretic
Antiemetic, Anxiety, Appetite enhancer, Digestion problems, Insomnia, Sedative
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Inner Bark, Leaves, Sap
Flowers, Leaves
Other Uses
Used as a thickener in soups, Used as essential oil, used for making charcoal, Used in making tea
Can be made into a herbal tea, Medicinal oil, Used as insect repellent, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in herbal medicines
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable
Botanical Name
BETULA pendula
MELISSA officinalis
Common Name
Common Birch, European White Birch, Silver Birch
Lemonbalm, balm, common balm, balm mint
In Hindi
Silver Birch
नींबू बाम
In German
Weißbirke
Lemonbalm
In French
Silver Birch
mélisse
In Spanish
Abedul de plata
Lemonbalm
In Greek
Silver Birch
Lemonbalm
In Portuguese
Silver Birch
Lemonbalm
In Polish
Silver Birch
Lemonbalm
In Latin
Argentum Birch
CITRAGO
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Fagales
Lamiales
Family
Betulaceae
Lamiaceae
Genus
Betula
Melissa
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Betuloideae
Nepetoideae
Number of Species
604
1
27800
👆🏻