Native plants for wetlands, fields or forests and an eclectic mix of other botanic delights

Betula lenta

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Status
In Stock
Black Birch, Sweet Birch
Often grows with Yelllow Birch and Hemlock
Mature Size:
' Height /
' Spread
Expected Size:
50'-60'
/
40'-50'
Light Preference:
Sun to Part Sun
Soil Preference:
Moist (Mesic)
Price:
$12.50/1 gal. (3'-4') larger plants individually priced. $48.50 (6'-7')

Betula lenta (Sweet or Black Birch) is native to eastern North America, from Nova Scotia west to southeast Manitoba, and south to Maryland and Delaware, and in the Appalachian Mountains to northern Georgia and Alabama.

It is a medium-sized deciduous tree reaching 20 m tall with a trunk up to 60 cm diameter. In younger trees the bark is characteristic of most birches with smooth bark and horizontal fissures. It can sometimes be mistakenly identified as a cherry tree. In older tree specimens the bark can developes a strong, peeling, exfoliation.  The twigs, when scraped, have a strong scent of wintergreen. The leaves are alternate, ovate, 5-12 cm long and 4-8 cm broad, with a finely serrated margin. The twigs and buds are somewhat hairy.  The flowers are wind-pollinated catkins 3-6 cm long, the male catkins pendulous, the female catkins erect. The fruit, maturing in early summer, is composed of numerous tiny winged seeds packed between the catkin bracts.

Betula lenta was used commercially in the past for production of oil of wintergreen before modern industrial synthesis.

Betula lenta's leaves serve as food for some lepidopteran caterpillars; a number of lepidopteran species feed on birches, in general.

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Information

Prices listed are subject to change, based upon size change and availability.

We are a small local nursery with limited shipping capability. We will do our best to ship smaller material (usually 1 or 2 gallon), although we can sometimes ship larger plants with the pots removed.

We have some species that are not listed, as we have too few of them to make a full listing plausible. You can always inquire.

We will consider contract growing an order with appropriate advance notice and availability of seed, cuttings or lining out stock.

Summer Business Hours
Monday
10- 6
Tuesday
10- 6
Wednesday
By Appointment
Thursday
10 - 6
Friday
10- 5
Saturday
10- 5
Sunday
By Appointment
Kollar Nursery | 5200 West Heaps Road, Pylesville, MD 21132 | 410.836.0500
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