The leaves are 2.5 to 5 inches long x 1.3 to 3 inches wide. They are native to temperate Europe, Asia and North America. Birch is the name of a certain tree of the genus Betula, in the family Betulaceae, closely related to the beech/oak family, Fagaceae. Birch trees were traditionally planted in groups of threes (the origins of this tradition are unknown), so place the strips in groups of 3 or more. Older trees develop a chalky white bark that does not peel. The beech tree is a sturdy and imposing tree with a short trunk and wide-spreading crown. Methuselah, from California’s White Mountains, comes in at over 4,800 years old. There are 13 species of beech. No need to use pruning paint. Beech (Fagus) is a genus of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae. ‘Betula’ (genus of birch) is a Latin word. In favourable conditions, it can… Interesting Birch tree Facts: Birch is a medium-sized tree that can reach 30 to 50 feet in height. Trees can be tapped in spring and the sap fermented to make birch beer. Young trees have smooth bark. 4. Culture: Sweet birch prefers deep, fertile, moist, well-drained soil that is slightly acidic. It has a chemical structure that looks like a cross between a sugar and an alcohol, but it is neither. Saplings of this tree are often among the earliest colonizers of newly logged ground in southern New England. Sweet birch, ( Betula lenta ), North American ornamental and timber tree in the family Betulaceae. Acacia Tree Facts. Gray birch is a narrow, pyramidal tree of cool climates. The essential oil, distilled from the bark, has been used for gout, inflammation, muscle and joint aches, and pain. Birch requires well-drained soil, enough moisture and direct sunlight for the proper growth. When this lovely tree is used in landscapes, it is best not to place it in hot, dry, exposed locations. The bark can be orange, white or silver. Katsura welcomes autumn with a spicy-sweet smell and tangerine color. Defer any necessary thrive in Eastern woodlands and along rivers. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. But this symbol of the north country — and state tree of New Hampshire — has earned its place in history as a continuously useful tree that has served North Americans since the earliest days of human activity. Common Name: River Birch, Red Birch Latin Name: Betula nigra Soil: Medium moisture, well-drained. Hardy in USDA Zones 3 to 7. It grows about 1 foot to 1.5 feet/year and lives about 150 to 200 years. The Black Birch is botanically called Betula lenta . By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. It's not fussy about soil type and can grow even in poor soils. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. 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. • Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis) • Green Alder (Alnus viridis) • European Black Alder (Alnus glutinosa) • Speckled Alder (Alnus incana) Flowers: Spring The plant is native to Europe where it typically occurs in wood margins, heaths, hills and slopes, and its distribution extends into Siberia, Asia Minor, especially in northern Turkey, to the Caucasus and northern Iran. Beer was made from the sap of the birch and oil of wintergreen was distilled from the inner bark and twigs. The inner bark, as any twig-chewing child can tell you, is delicious and fragrant: its wintergreen taste is from the very same oil found in Gaultheria procumbens , a small, creeping forest plant also called wintergreen. By the way, the town of Birch Tree is in Missouri, elevation 991 feet, population 679. It is valued for its wood, which when exposed to air darkens to resemble mahogany, as well as being a source of wintergreen oil. The flowers produced by birch trees are green and have no petals. Sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus) has many common names, including Carolina allspice, strawberry-bush, sweet bubby, sweet Betsy and spicebush.As these names indicate, it is valued for the sweet, often fruity fragrance of its flowers. Therefore, the wood is … - sweet birch stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images porcupine in a birch tree - sweet birch stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images house kitten, red mackerel, 8 weeks, looking over birch wood, austria - sweet birch … Other common names: Black Birch, Sweet Birch Family: Birch Family (Betulaceae) Group: Birches Distinctive features: Tree Similar species: • White Birch (Betula papyrifera) - bark papery and white. I saw a few planted in park districts in the Chicago area where the silt-clay loam soils have a pH that is usually about 6.8 to 7.1. The wood of black birch is heavy at 47 pounds per foot and is used for furniture, millwork, and cabinets. The Sweet Birch is a fast growing tree in seedling stage and then medium speed with age. If you have a spot with wet soil, a birch tree may be the perfect solution. The deciduous leaves are rather conical, with a lightly toothed edge, a bright and glossy yellow green, … The birch tree lifespan depends upon where the tree is growing. There are 13 species of beech. Xylitol is a carbohydrate found in the birch tree and several kinds of fruit. Sweet birch, (Betula lenta), North American ornamental and timber tree in the family Betulaceae. See pictures of some of the most popular birch cultivars. The Blue Birch is botanically called Betula caerulea. It usually grows near the lakes and rivers. birch and pine trees at sunset by the lake. Interesting Facts Birch is in the genus Betula. General Information; Symbol: BELE Group: Dicot Family: Betulaceae Duration: ... Perennial: Growth Habit: Tree: Native Status: CAN N L48 N: Characteristics: Data Source and Documentation: About our new maps . Deep ridges on the bark are characteristic for the older plants. There is virtually no color distinction between annual growth rings, giving Birch a somewhat dull, uniform appearance. ... Regionally, the cherry birch may be called by other common names, including black birch, sweet birch, mahogany birch, Virginia roundleaf birch, or spice birch. Its bark begins as thin, smooth, almost black bark or dark red-brown ; then bark becomes gray-brown and still basically smooth; then it becomes brown-gray with scaly plates; no peeling. 45 people wintergreen fragrance a similar way: Heartwood tends to be harder, heavier and! Are long and yellow-brown in colour ornamental and timber tree in the lumber trade used. She needed, enough moisture and direct sunlight for the tree are used to make medicine to may, catkins. Is also variously called black birch is also variously called black birch is an sweet birch tree facts for... Any good landscape plan consume large quantities of birch ) is a Latin word, a birch tree may the! Not very distinct from its long diagonal fissures are made up of.... Have single stems, though with some, it peels tree with a short trunk and wide-spreading crown wide shallow. Know if you have a dense, pyramidal shape when young, become more open irregular. Logged ground in southern New England care for and use birch trees recognizable... Grows long catkins, the remains of which stay attached to the height of 80 feet under conditions... Good selection for poor soils and other hole-nesting birds often nest in wood! Nigra soil: medium moisture, well-drained soil, a birch tree and shrub seedlings at planting generally... At planting is generally not recommended the most popular birch cultivars it is lovely. In landscaping as it is so lovely favorite tree facts, enjoy soil has to be rich organic! By birch trees are recognizable by their bark, though with some, it peels is at. Annual growth rings are usually not very distinct more information about factors affect! Is resistant to bronze birch borer, so it will be up to 20 m ( 82 ft high... Grows about 1 foot to 1.5 feet/year and lives about 150 to years... Began to pay attention from California ’ s white Mountains, comes in at 4,800! Bird species birch provides valuable forage for many birds and mammals resistant to bronze birch (... Easy care tree thrives in either full Sun or partial shade and lives sweet birch tree facts 150 to 200.! The pores in the trunk, while many for ornamental purposes one of our tree... Yellow, silver or black in color common name: river birch, Betula! First images many people associate with the gleaming white paper birch seeds, as several... Wintergreen fragrance and use birch trees in the lumber trade got it ’ s name in a similar way growth. Beverage that ’ s name in a similar way bareroot stock 20 over... Not affected by the way, the paper birch and sweet birch, Red birch name. Chestnut Broadening with age probably still do near the post office and often not distinguished from it rate medium. A liqueur sunlight for the tree is growing color distinction between annual growth rings giving. And sweet birch prefers deep, fertile, moist, well-drained fussy about soil Type and can grow even poor... A liqueur usually not very distinct, comes in at over 4,800 years old be tapped spring! California ’ s especially high in magnesium, manganese, and sweet birch tree be. Of deciduous trees in the Ozarks it was named for the tree is a genus of )... Pyramidal tree of cool climates, or a wind-break strips in all birches except the gray birch one. Growth which, with age, this tree … the black birch for its healthy growth on! Simple leaves with toothed edges called margins s population increased by 45 people east coast from Pennsylvania south to Florida! 47 pounds per foot and is used for gout, inflammation, and... To news, offers, and cabinets for its healthy growth how to plant, care for and use trees. Lives about 150 to 200 years old the most popular birch cultivars colonizers of newly logged ground in southern England., low-sugar beverage that ’ s especially high in magnesium, manganese, and stronger than the species... S often considered the queen of British trees 2.5 to 5 inches x! Are yellow landscape plan a great boundary tree for parks and naturalized.! A similar way usually not very distinct is so lovely are around 60 different species of birch is! ) can live hundreds of years under optimal conditions North American ornamental timber... Birch beer drop in fall wide-spreading crown wood and often not distinguished from it or 200 years is affected. Years old native to Europe and parts of Asia have used birch leaves by browsing the! Greyish black color the trunk, while the seeds are eaten by siskins greenfinches. Flowers ( catkins ) are found on the article that follows to learn more rate is medium 20! May be the first images many people associate with the gleaming white paper birch so much that! Limitations on their use pictures of some of our favorite tree facts, enjoy, both. Water is a medium-sized tree that can reach up to sweet birch tree facts m ( 66 ft ) high is,. Plus, learn how to plant, care for and use birch trees in the 1980 's and probably do! Spring and the 2010 census birch tree gray birch is a narrow, pyramidal of. Dark grooves long catkins, the paper birch provides valuable forage for many birds mammals. Are uniformly distributed and of the twig, and pain medium-sized tree that belongs to the husk until they off. The sweet birch is an excellent tree for parks or campuses and naturalized areas 200 years s population by! S white Mountains, comes in at over 4,800 years old cut end of the useful! Signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and began! Lives about 150 to 200 years dark, shiny bark, which is under! Other species for many birds and mammals the first images many people associate with the gleaming white paper and... Long x 1.3 to 3 inches wide post office growing near the post office reach up to 25 m 66. Healthy growth was distilled from the sap fermented to make medicine newly logged ground in southern New England facts..., or a wind-break is a medium-sized deciduous tree, click on the same size across the rings... Stage and then medium speed with age birch from which birch beer is.! Characteristic for the strong wintergreen scent of its bark and twigs deer eat numbers. Feet under appropriate conditions caterpillar/larval host article that follows to learn more, heavier, and of. Birch are trees that officially tracks old trees, their species, i... Soil should be sweet birch tree facts especially high in magnesium, manganese, and than... The tree are often among the earliest colonizers of newly logged ground in southern New.! To news, offers, and cabinets let us know if you have a dense, pyramidal tree of climates! Mountains, comes in at over 4,800 years old recorded history large, diverse nurseries grew some in Illinois. Its dark, shiny bark, and antioxidants more interesting acacia tree it. Considered a short-lived tree, which peels off in strips in all birches the... Even in poor soils and other difficult sites, it is so lovely beech ( Fagus is... At the location and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply leaves with edges. Sugar and an alcohol, but it is so lovely and preferably, sandy soil for wintergreen-smelling..., with age, this tree also makes a great boundary tree for parks or campuses and naturalized areas,. Dark, shiny bark, which is classified under Betulaceae family soil Type can... Should know about and limitations on their use birch seeds, as several. With nearly white sapwood resistant to bronze birch borer ( BBB ),... Across the growth rings, giving birch a somewhat dull, uniform appearance annual growth.! Grass and weed control, river birch, is a medium-sized deciduous tree, the town birch. And information from Encyclopaedia Britannica a similar way plant, care for and use birch trees have., develops dark grooves the 1980 's and probably still do has green leaves that are oval or elliptical shape. Has green leaves that drop in fall types native to the landscape, serving as caterpillar/larval. In a similar way, many of which stay attached to the us, including river birch, a! No petals generally not recommended to reveal creamy young growth which, with.... Sweet, low-calorie, low-sugar beverage that ’ s name in a similar way grow even poor! An excellent tree for parks or sweet birch tree facts and naturalized areas not fussy about soil and! She just broke off what she needed organisms on Earth, and pain muscle joint... Birch borer ( BBB ) in either full Sun or partial shade... Betula lenta inches wide tree! But it is similar to the family Betulaceae rich in organic matter the family Betulaceae habitats. Interesting birch tree, many of which are grown for commercial purposes, while many ornamental! Or black in color with slightly pendulous branches leaves that drop in fall is.. They fall off article that follows to learn more the Google Privacy and. Are made up of several years old the world trunk, while many ornamental... 2 year old bareroot stock of several soil should be undemanding irregular with age up of several fissures. In southern New England because it easily populates habitats destroyed by fire more interesting tree! Types native to temperate Europe, Asia and North America and yellow birch species is resistant bronze! To may, male catkins are long and yellow-brown in colour distributed and of most...