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Plant Database

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Amazing Plants in North Carolina

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Betula lenta

Genus: Betula - Species: lenta - Family: Betulaceae

Phonetic Spelling: BET-yoo-luh LEN-ta

Common Names:

  • Black Birch
  • Cherry Birch
  • Liliental
  • Mahogany Birch
  • Sweet Birch

Tags

full sun tolerant
children's garden
playground plant
pollinator plant
partial shade tolerant
wildlife friendly
showy flowers
deciduous
fall interest
colorful leaves
bird friendly
deer resistant
native tree
NC native
native garden
deer browsing plant
food source hard mast fruit
sandy soils tolerant
clay soils tolerant
larval host plant
dry soils tolerant
gold
fire low flammability
spring interest
food source summer
food source herbage
Audubon
Coastal FACU
FACU Piedmont Mountains
seeds
Duskywing butterflies
mourning cloak butterflies
dreamy duskywing butterfly
eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly
catkins

Quick Facts

  • Height: 60 ft. 0 in. - 70 ft. 0 in.
  • Width: 35 ft. 0 in. - 45 ft. 0 in.
  • USDA Zones:
    • 7a
    • 7b
    • 8a
    • 8b
    • 6a
    • 6b
    • 4a
    • 4b
    • 5a
    • 5b
    • 3a
    • 3b
  • NC Region:Not specified

  • Origin:Eastern Canada and United States

  • Life Cycle:
    • Woody
    • Perennial
  • Plant Types:
    • Tree
    • Native Plant
  • Habit:Not specified

Distribution

N/A

Uses

This plant is used in the production of wintergreen oil. In the past, the people of the Appalachians cut large numbers of this tree to produce wintergreen oil. 100 saplings and young trees were needed to produce only a quart of the oil. The hard, close grained lumber is used for furniture and interior trims.

Sweet birch
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