Betula lenta, commonly known as Sweet Birch or Black Birch, is a medium-sized deciduous tree native to the eastern deciduous forests of North America, particularly thriving in cool, moist sites within mixed woodlands, along streams, and on well-drained slopes in the Appalachian Mountains from southern Maine to northern Georgia and west to southernmost Ontario. It typically reaches 50-80 feet (15-24 meters) in height, with exceptional specimens growing up to 98 feet (30 meters), and has a trunk diameter of up to 60 cm (2.0 ft). The tree’s bark is dark and aromatic, resembling that of cherry trees, which is why it’s also known as Cherry Birch. Sweet Birch has a striking yellow fall foliage and is valued for its wintergreen-scented twigs and leaves.

Sweet Birch is appreciated for its ornamental features, including the showy yellow foliage in autumn and its handsome, cherry-like bark. It is often used in naturalistic plantings, as a shade tree in residential areas, and for restoration projects. This species prefers full sun to part shade and requires medium amounts of water, thriving in soils with medium to fast drainage. While it is not commonly afflicted by serious disease or pest problems, birch borers can sometimes be an issue. Sweet Birch is also known for its historical medicinal uses, as the sap can be boiled down to produce birch oil, a source of wintergreen oil.CC BY-SA 4.0