Description
SWEET BIRCH
Betula lenta
Sweet Birch is attention-getting because of its foliage, which turns in fall to bright yellow. The bark is a shiny dark red—almost black—and smooth to scaly, resembling a cherry tree bark. The tree’s leaves and bark give off a wintergreen fragrance. Crushed and distilled, they will produce an oil that can be used in candles and soaps.
Many other birch are damaged by bronze birch borer and gypsy moth, but this species has a proven resistance. The sweet birch grows to a pyramid 40-80 feet high in the shape of a pyramid, another feature that separates it from most trees. They provide larval sustenance for butterflies who lay their eggs on the surface of the leaves and a food haven for pollinating insects.
This particular birch is native to Maine, as far south as Alabama and west to Ohio. They can be grown successfully in USDA zone 3-8 and in most soil types that are fertile and well-drained, even rocky. The sweet birch has stood the test of time.
Care Info
- Scientific Name:Betula lenta
