You can then estimate the age of the tree by multiplying this growth factor by the DBH in inches. It may also be derived from the Sanskrit bhurja, which means “to shine” and refers to the bark of the birch; lenta is from the Latin lenis, which means “tough but flexible” and refers to the supple branches. It can be susceptible to leaf spot, leaf rust, canker, dieback, wood decay, mildew, aphids, birch skeletonizer and seed mite gall. Sweet birch is notorious for seeding at a prolific rate, and often overtake areas where other tree species have been wiped out by pests or disease.Â. Seedlings have moderate growth rate and are usually outplanted as 2 year old bareroot stock. Sweet birch is native to eastern North America, occurring naturally in areas from southern Maine to southernmost Ontario, and south from the Appalachian Mountains to northern Georgia. When choosing a location, keep in mind that the Sweet Birch has a fast growth rate. Bees and other insects often visit catkins in spring to obtain pollen for food. Sweet Birch is a large deciduous tree with reddish-brown to reddish-black bark. It is called Sweet Birch due to it’s peppermint-like taste and aroma when twigs are broken or crushed. Quantities and prices for each variety 1 - 9 9 - 12" - $13.00 ea 13 - 19" - $18.00 ea 20 - 28" - 29.00 ea Long ago, people would peel layers of the thin, paper-like bark and write on it as a way to send messages. Description: Betula lenta Also known as Cherry birch. This tree is resistant to bronze birch borer, and is more resistant to gypsy moth than other members of the genus. Sweet birch, as the name implies will have a sweeter and more potent scent, with a deliciously sweet wintergreen flavor. Flower and fruit: Sweet birch is monoecious. Several Seasons of Color From One Tough Tree Why Dura Heat® River Birch Trees? Birches are among the first species to colonize abandoned fields, roadside cuts and disturbed sites. The catkins (elongated, drooping clusters of tiny flowers without petals) appear just before the leaves emerge. It grows up to 75 feet in height and 40 feet in spread. Birch is from the Old High German word birka and is related to the word “bright;” probably due to the pale bark of some birch species. This tree is native to Eastern United States from Maine to Georgia. Germination is facilitated by exposure to light, so do not sow seeds too deeply. The paper birch received its name from the nature of its bark. Hardy in USDA Zones 3 to 7. It helps to reduce cellulite when combined with a cleansing diet. In practice no more than 247 well-spaced crop trees (6.4 rn or 21 ft apart) per hectare (100/acre) are released to produce 150 final harvest trees 46 cm. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Sign up and receive special information about our programs and events. Height: 40 - 55'. The NSZ in which the trial site is located is also presented in Table 3 . Sweet birch is not ranked as a plant of conservation concern by the Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission. Stunted growth and a more shrublike appearance are both indications that a sweet birch tree is struggling and is not growing in its ideal conditions. The peeling white bark blends well with winter's snowy surroundings. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Wind. Female flowers are light green, upright and ½ to 1 inch long. Containerized planting is feasible (11,50,115). When grown in the right conditions, sweet birches have a moderate growth rate of approximately 20 feet every 20 years, typically topping out at 50-70 feet tall. There are some 40 species of birches found in the temperate regions of the world with the United States and Asia home to the largest numbers. Birch catkins are an important soft mast for grouse. Sweet birch often forms thickets on disturbed or abandoned sites. Birch love cool, moist soil with their leaves in full sun. Hardiness Zone. This tree is native to Eastern United States from Maine to Georgia. Notably the best of birches for fall color. Growth rate is medium, 20 feet over a 20 year period. Leaf spots, blisters and rust, canker, dieback, wood-decay and mildew are the most commonly noted pathogens. predicted growth rates to account for inter-tree competition. Sweet birch was once a source of commercial supply for oil of wintergreen. Has many horizontal or drooping branches. Growth habit: Somewhat pyramidal when young, usually rounded or oval later. The rate of growth may also vary within the lifespan of the tree. Trees perform reasonable well on the heavy soils of the Midwest. Height: 25' to 50'. It is called Sweet Birch due to it's peppermint-like taste and aroma when twigs are broken or crushed. It is noted for attracting wildlife. Growth and Yield-Sweet birch saplings grow relatively rapidly. These trees can grow up to three feet each year, so they reach mature heights much faster than other landscape trees. A beautiful, fast-growing shade tree that thrives from North to South, the Dura Heat® River Birch is one-of-a-kind. Growth Rate. Super Sweet Fruit Meets Easy Growth in California Why Sweet Pomegranate Trees? This tree is native to Eastern United States from Maine to Georgia. Songbirds visit the catkins in spring to forage for insects. It grows up to 75 feet in height and 40 feet in spread. Similar to cherry trees, the bark on mature sweet birches becomes plated due to vertical cracks forming.Â. The leaves, twigs, and inner bark of a sweet birch have a strong wintergreen scent and are used in the production of oil of wintergreen, and the sap can be used for boiling syrup (similar to the Sugar Maple) as well as in the production of birch beer. inch long, and give way to tiny winged nutlets. Birch and white spruce have growth rates of 0.10 to 0.15 inch per year on well drained sites, but white spruce is apparently more affected by poor drainage. Individuals seem to especially focus on using fast growing shade trees and fast growing hedges in their landscape to reap the benefits of these value added landscape design practices sooner. Seed germination occurs the following spring. Betula lenta reported: In northwestern Pennsylvania, at age 12, 1.8 m (6 ft) in height; in western Pennsylvania and central West Virginia, at age 20, 14 m (46 ft) in height and 10 cm (4 in) in d.b.h. Complete crown release provides adequate crown and root expansion space for optimizing growth rate and quality development in yellow birch. The heartwood color differs from cream to light brown tinged with red and has a separate but not irresistible grain pattern in the birch wood market. Sweet birch should not be pruned in spring because it "bleeds" excessively. The heartwood color differs from cream to light brown tinged with red and has a separate but not irresistible grain pattern in the birch wood market. It is in flower in April, and the seeds ripen in October. This birch will need additional water during dry periods. For example, fertilizing young sweet birch trees in the spring or fall can help them grow more rapidly. Growth Habit is dense and round topped. Some of the most popular trees around today are fast growing trees. Trees grow in rich, mesic sites, including coves and lower slopes. This tree is native to Eastern United States from Maine to Georgia. Birch leafminers and bronze birch borers are the two most pervasive birch tree pests. Betula lenta (Sweet Birch) Sweet Birch is one of our a great native trees. This birch will need additional water The slow-growing American beech (Fagus grandifolia) is the only beech species native to North America. The seeds are a food source for a variety of birds. It shoots up to its mature height of 50 to 90 feet with an annual growth rate averaging 36 inches per growing season. The leaves are glossy dark green above and paler beneath. They are 2 ½ to 6 in. The fruit is a small winged nutlet occurring in an upright strobile. Sweet birch trees grow well in wet conditions and are not drought-tolerant. The cherry-like bark is smooth on young trees and scaly on mature ones. The bark on young trees is reddish-brown to almost black with prominent horizontal lenticels; on mature trees brownish black and breaking up into large, thin, irregular, scaly plates. Delicious, healthful fruit, right from your backyard, and grown with ease – the Sweet Pomegranate Tree delivers in more ways than one. Height: 25' to 35'. It is called Sweet Birch due to it's peppermint-like taste and aroma when twigs are broken or crushed. birch seed is usually counter-productive. Betula lenta - Also known as Cherry birch. It may initially grow slowly, and then the rate may pick up and towards the ends it may gradually reduce to reach the final maturity height. Spread: 35 - 45'. Stunted growth and a more shrublike appearance are both indications that a sweet birch tree is struggling and is not growing in its ideal conditions. While they don’t kill birch trees, they weaken their resistance to other pests and diseases, particularly the bronze birch borer which can kill birch trees. Its fast growth means your landscape fills in quickly. Try them along a north facing slope or a site where the house or building may shade the root zone, but their canopy receives at least 6 hours of sunlight a day. Sweet birch is an excellent tree for parks or campuses and naturalized areas. Fermentation of sap was also used to produce vinegar. Unfortunately, birch trees are susceptible to a number of common pests and diseases. Form: Rounded with a flat top. Poplar has the highest growth rate of any of the trees measured, that is, a maximum increase in diameter of 0.4 inch per year on well drained sites. Exposure: Partial shade or partial sun to full sun. In the Harvard Forest, sweet birch is sometimes present in the advance hardwood growth under old-field white pine about 50 to 70 years old (7). Male flowers are apparent on the tree during the winter as they are formed during summer and fall of the year prior to flowering. Becomes rounded with an irregular crown as it matures. Sweet birch grows at elevations up to 4,000 feet in the Appalachians. It is called Sweet Birch due to it's peppermint-like taste and aroma when twigs are broken or crushed. Native Americans used sweet birch as an anti-diarrheal and cold remedy. Birches are considered “bleeders”, avoid pruning in late spring before leaves emerge. One month cold stratification will compensate for light treatment. Betula is Latin for “pitch” and is the Pliny name for bitumen, a tarry substance that is distilled from the bark. Abstract First Year Sprouting and Growth Dynamics of Northern Red Oak, Yellow-Poplar, Red Maple, and Sweet Birch on a Mesic Site Following a Release Burn During a “Shelterwood-Burn” Sequence. Medium growth rate to 40 to 55 feet. This is very toxic when taken orally, and it can also be absorbed through Notably the best of birches for fall color. A low-nitrogen fertilizer, such as an 11-22-22 formula is best for sweet birches.Â, Sweet birch trees benefit from regular pruning as with most tree species. Sweet birch grows best in bright, direct sunlight. The reddish-brown slender twigs have a strong wintergreen odor when bruised or broken. It is hardy to zone (UK) 3. Bloom Color: White. 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