Birch trees are also known by several other common names including Paper Birch, Silver birch, Yellow birch and Cherry birch. The bark can be orange, white or silver. Location Native to the eastern United States; often found in rocky sites. Color of the bark is commonly white and reddish-brown. sweet birch (Betula lenta L.) (Levia and Herwitz, 2005). Our future. This site was last updated on December 18, 2020. Fall color is golden yellow. Sweet birch can grow to 40 feet in height in the landscape. They love to feed on Birch trees and can skeletonize leaves in a short period of time. Copyright 2020, University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. Description These are small to medium-sized trees living up to 140 years. Sweet birch leaves are oval to oblong, 2 1/2 to 5 inches long and are sharply toothed. However, not all trees are created equal. Young trees are pyramidal and dense forming an irregular, rounded, sometimes wide-spreading crown at maturity. For Immunity. Use up and down arrow keys to explore within a submenu. Stop by, email, or call. The … They ripen in fall. Birch leaves contain anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties that help the body protect … Saplings of this tree are often among the earliest colonizers of newly logged ground in southern New England. Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menus and submenus. In older tree specimens the bark(unlike the more commonly known birches) develops vertical cracks into irregular scaly plates revealing rough dark brow… Building the urban forest for 2050. Young trees have a  smooth, shiny, red-brown with rows of white lenticels.Mature bark brown-black and scaly.Crushed stems smell like wintergreen. Some have single stems, though many are made up of several. Cherry Birch (Betula lenta) Cherry birch is a large tree that grows from a single main trunk. Other trees with "maple-like" leaves—the sycamore, sweetgum, and yellow-poplar—have leaves that are alternate in arrangement. For general undergraduate student information, contact Dr. Rick Durham at (859) 257-3249, or rdurham@uky.edu. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources site notes that dark, shiny green is the color of sweet birch’s foliage from spring through summer. Cankers, aphids, leaf miners.Moderately susceptible to bronze birch borer.Sensitive to soil compaction, air pollution. The following menu has 3 levels. Nestled in the Ozarks it was named for the tree growing near the post office. For undergraduate student information regarding the Sustainable Agriculture program, contact Dr. Krista Jacobsen at (859) 257-3921, or krista.jacobsen@uky.edu. Buds are hairless with strong wintergreen smell. The flowers produced by birch trees are green and have no petals. A large amount needs to be ingested in order to cause respiratory failure and death. Male flowers, called catkins, bloom in the late summer or fall. Trees are beautiful additions to any landscape and yard. Explore this online platform for Chicago-area residents to share their favorite stories about trees. Oil from Sweet Birch is toxic. The colors of most birch tree foliage is some shade of green, with the leaves capable of much more brilliant tints come autumn. Sweet birch wood is also harvested and used for crafting furniture, flooring, and more. It will stay in the tree … Birch trees sometimes have smooth bark, though with some, it peels. They bloom in erect clusters at the tips of long shoots and persist through winter. Betula alleghaniensis, the yellow birch, golden birch, or swamp birch, is a large and important lumber species of birch native to North-eastern North America.Its vernacular names refer to the color of the tree's bark. You can search, browse, and learn more about the plants in our living collections by visiting our BRAHMS website. Natural Areas Conservation Training Program, Black walnut toxicity (plants tolerant of), Preventing construction damage to trees and shrubs, Trees and shrubs for the four seasons landscape, Sudden Oak Death, Ramorum Blight and Phytophthora ramorum, Eastern United States Wetlands Collection. The tree is known for the strong wintergreen scent of its bark and leaves. Sweet birch is an attractive tree for lawns and naturalized areas, with shiny, red-brown bark and yellow foliage. Within a submenu, use escape to move to top level menu parent. It is sometimes mistakenly identified as a cherry tree. Description 15.2-21.3 meter (50-70ft) deciduous tree with nonpeeling, often smooth, aromatic bark. Trees can be tapped in spring and the sap fermented to make birch beer. Beech leaves are typically oblong or oval and medium to dark, glossy green. Native to the eastern United States, the tree also attracts beautiful butterflies to the landscape, serving as a caterpillar/larval host. Also Called Black Birch. Here are five trees that require a lot of maintenance. Our communities. Sweet birch has attractive, dark shiny red, almost black bark that looks like that of the cherry tree and may be smooth or scaly plated. Usually about 18 m (60 feet) tall, the tree may reach 24 m or more in the southern Appalachians; on poor soil it may be stunted and shrublike. Oil of wintergreen is now produced synthetically. Use enter to activate. See Notes. Getting a tree service to perform a soil-applied systemic insecticide injection in the spring. Common walnut ( Juglans regia ) and black walnut ( Juglans nigra ) leaves have a characteristic and strong smell that is difficult to describe. Site design : Academic Web Pages. This species is resistant to bronze birch borer (BBB). They are between 3 and 6 inches long, with saw-toothed edges. Leaves. Use up and down arrow keys to explore within a submenu. The university does not review, control or take responsibility for the contents of those sites. The leaves of the Sweet Birch are 2.5" to 6", broad, ovate with cordate base, single-toothed margins, alternate and simple. An Equal Opportunity University. long (5-15 cm). Simple, alternate leaves;  2 to 6 inches long;  broadly ovate ; doubly toothed margins.Medium green in summer turning golden yellow in fall. Cylindrosporium and Septoria cause small spots with no borders … This tree develops best in mountain coves and on rich slopes, where it reaches an average height of 50 to 60 feet and a diameter of 2 to 3 feet. The Herbalist . By the way, the town of Birch Tree is in Missouri, elevation 991 feet, population 679. Sweet birch Sweet birch is an attractive tree for lawns and naturalized areas, with shiny, red-brown bark and yellow foliage. It has had another interesting use. A deciduous, medium shade tree, the Sweet Birch is a common forest tree. Aromatic and long-lived (100 years or more), Betula lenta (Sweet Birch) is a single-trunked, medium-sized deciduous tree of conical habit in youth, becoming oval to rounded with age. Our trees. Heights of 50 feet (15 m) to 80 feet (24 m) are more typical. This species is resistant to bronze birch borer (BBB). WARNING: Some websites to which these materials provide links for the convenience of users are not managed by the University of Kentucky. Both male and female flowers bloom on the same tree in the birch family. Many beautiful trees are prone to shedding not only leaves, but branches, nuts, cones, or other debris throughout the year. Its ascending branches are covered with ovate, serrated, shiny leaves, 2-6 in. Sweet Birch - Betula lenta . Leaves are alternate, simple, serrated, ovate in shape, and acuminate. Browse the curated collection and add your voice! However, when the cooler weather beckons, these leaves can turn bright hues of gold and yellow. Don’t laugh, Viburnum, Missouri, got it’s name in a similar way. Introduction: The yellow fall foliage of sweet birch is considered the best fall color among cultivated birches in the Midwest. Around 100 saplings and young trees were needed to produce a quart of the product, which was sold to druggists to flavor candy and medicines. 2 to 3 inch male catkins are at tips of branches and hang down when opening.Female flowers are smaller and upright along same stem. Have tree and plant questions? Alternative Titles: Betula lenta, black birch, cherry birch, red birch. From top level menus, use escape to exit the menu. "When crushed the leaves twigs give off a sweet wintergreen fragrance. Although tree crown architecture, leaf and stem roughness, and their geometric shapes are known to inluence surface storage capacities, species-speciic storage capacity values for diferent urban tree species are lacking (Xiao et al., 2000a). Not ornamentally important. Also known as Black birch or Cherry birch. Native to the eastern United States, the tree also attracts beautiful butterflies to the landscape, serving as a caterpillar/larval host. Best grown in full sun.Spring transplant only.Avoid pruning in spring as birches tend to 'bleed' (lose large quantities of sap). Birch trees are considered to be among the oldest species of tree still living. The leaves, bark, and buds of the tree are used to make medicine. Grows 40' - 50' high. The wood is widely used in the manufacture of furniture and paper while the leaves, sap, and bark of the trees are used to make medicine. A large deciduous tree, the Black Walnut bears fruit which is prized by confectioners; its wood is sought after by furniture makers. Sweet birch was introduced into the landscape in 1759. The leaves are glossy dark green above and paler beneath. Get expert help from The Morton Arboretum Plant Clinic. Sweet birch (Betula lenta), also commonly called cherry birch or black birch, is a striking species of birch tree that is characterized by shiny black-brown bark and foliage that turns bright yellow in the fall months. Flowers are found in catkins in early spring. Birch leaves range in color from grass green to dark green during the growing season, turning yellow in the fall. Fruit trees that contain cyanogenic glycosides are members of the Prunus genus or the Malus genus, including apple, crabapple, cherry, peach, apricot, almond and plum trees. Cherry birch is also variously called black birch for its dark, shiny bark, and sweet birch for its wintergreen-smelling twigs. Betula lenta is a medium-sized deciduous tree reaching 30 m (98 ft) tall, exceptionally to 35 metres (115 ft) with a trunk up to 60 cm (2.0 ft) diameter. Beer was made from the sap of the birch and oil of wintergreen was distilled from the inner bark and twigs. Family Betulaceae. It has a sweet woody smell and is used in the production of wintergreen . Betula nigra (river birch) Like other birches, river birch is also known for its bark. N-318 Ag Sciences Center University of Kentucky Lexington, KY 40546-0091, Fax (Lexington): 859-257-2859       (Princeton): 270-365-2667, For questions about home gardening, landscaping or commercial horticulture production, please contact your county extension agent. use escape to move to top level menu parent. Sweet birch occurs in moist, well-drained woodland slopes. This material will be taken up as the tree takes up water for its leaves. Sweet birch lives to a maximum of 200 years. Black Walnut Juglans nigra. Birch are trees that are native to Europe and parts of Asia. The leaves are more toxic when they are in the process of wilting. The Morton Arboretum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that relies on the generosity of members and donors. Between the 2000 and the 2010 census Birch Tree’s population increased by … Fungal diseases from various pathogens cause leaf spots, blotches and blisters on birch trees. For graduate student information, contact Dr. Doug Archbold at 859-257-3352, or darchbol@uky.edu, Sweet Birch - Betula lentaBirch Family (Betulaceae). In youth, the outer … The inner bark of sweet birch has a strong wintergreen scent, which led to its use in the production of oil of wintergreen. Click here, then click on your county either on the map or from the list of counties below it. Leaves. Leaves are toothed, ovaloid, and approximately 6in long. Name: Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera), also known as Canoe Birch. Leaf: Heart shaped, broad and ovate. Characteristics of North American Birch Trees Birch species are generally small- or medium-sized trees or large shrubs, mostly found in northern temperate climates in … The Sweet Birch shows high resistance to Bronze Birch Borer and Birch Leaf Miner, as well as tolerance for urban conditions and difficult growing sites. Fruit is an erect catkin with many tiny winged seeds. In younger trees the bark is characteristic of most birches, with smooth bark and distinct horizontal lenticels. Shiny, … Send mail to cgcass0@uky.edu with questions about this site. In the past, people who lived in the Appalachians cut down large numbers of sweet birches to produce oil of wintergreen. Sweet birch, ( Betula lenta ), also called black birch, cherry birch, and red birch, North American ornamental and timber tree in the family Betulaceae. 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