Sweet Birch

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.