Betula lenta
An eastern North American hardwood in the birch family with wintergreen-scented bark and twigs, sap tapped to make syrup, and historically a major source of oil of wintergreen distilled from its wood, reaching about 15–24 meters tall.
Common Names
Sweet Birch, Black Birch, Cherry Birch, Mahogany Birch, Spice Birch, Mountain Mahogany
Summary
Sweet Birch (Betula lenta) is a deciduous tree native to eastern North America, typically 40–55 ft tall in cultivation and up to 70–80 ft in the wild, with a dense, pyramidal habit that becomes broad and rounded with age. It features ovate, glossy green leaves that turn golden yellow in fall, and bark that shifts from smooth reddish-brown to dark grey and furrowed with age; twigs, bark, and foliage emit a distinctive wintergreen scent when crushed. Flowers are wind-pollinated catkins in spring, producing numerous tiny winged seeds in fall, and the wood is heavy and close-grained. It prefers rich, moist, well-drained soils and full sun to partial shade, tolerating clay and rocky sites, and is hardy in USDA zones 3–8. It is deer resistant and commonly used as a shade or specimen tree in gardens, naturalized areas, and woodland edges; propagation is by seed, softwood cuttings, or grafting, with pruning best done during dormancy. Uses include sap that can be tapped to make birch syrup or birch beer, inner bark and sap historically yielding wintergreen oil, and wood valued for furniture, millwork, flooring, and cabinet work; the tree also supports wildlife by hosting caterpillars and attracting pollinators.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
480-984 inches
Spread
35-40 feet
Hardiness Zones
Zones 3-7
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally full Sun; tolerates partial shade.
Soil Type
Moist, well-drained acidic loamy soil
Soil Drainage
Moist, well-drained soil (preferably loamy; slightly acidic to neutral).
Soil pH
4.5-7.5, mildly acidic to mildly alkaline soils
Bloom Color
Yellow-Green
Bloom Time
Spring
Foliage Color
Dark green in summer, turning golden yellow in autumn.
Fall Foliage Color
Golden yellow
Leaf Lifecycle
Deciduous
Growth Rate
Fast growth, about 60–90 cm per year in young trees
Seasons of Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Propagation Methods
Seeds, Cuttings
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts bees, butterflies, other pollinators, birds
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- L.
- Publication
- Sp. Pl. : 983 (1753)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Fagales
- Family
- Betulaceae
- Genus
- Betula
Inferior Taxa
Betula lenta f. uber Betula lenta f. lenta