Betula lenta – Black or Sweet Birch

A fairly common tree in our forests but not planted as frequently as it should be in the home landscape. Perhaps its most ornamental feature is its glowing yellow fall color – luminescent against a background of, say, Hemlocks. When the strong heartwood is exposed to air it deepens in color and is sometimes passed off for mahogany. All birches are host plants for Mourning Cloak and Green Comma butterflies.  Black Birch is a source of wintergreen oil and a beer can be made from the twigs and sap in late winter – ask us for a recipe!