Sweet Birch Tree
Betula lenta
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Sweet Birch Tree - #3 Container 2-3 Feet is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry is designed to protect both consumers and the nursery trade from invasive plant pests and diseases. Sites that display the Plant Sentry protection badge are protected from consumers buying and nurseries shipping material carrying invasive pests and diseases.
This proprietary eCommerce software prevents the shipment of a restricted plant to each state. The Plant Sentry system includes a shipment certification program. The Plant Sentry Compliance Officer works closely with NatureHills.com and each nursery or fulfillment center to ensure only compliant plants are sold to customers.
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Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Shipping
To obtain a more accurate shipment time-frame, simply enter your zip code in the “Find Your Growing Zone” box to the right. Our plants are grown all over the country and lead time on items may be different because of this. Once your order is placed, you will also receive the specific shipment time-frame information as part of your order confirmation. Once an item ships, you will receive shipment notification and tracking numbers, so you can follow along while your plant travels to your doorstep. We use FedEx, UPS, or USPS at our discretion.
Due to winter weather we have put a hold on shipping to the areas shown below in grey. You can still order now and we will ship the plant to you during an appropriate time for your zone.
Standard Shipping Rates
At Nature Hills we handle, package and ship the products you order with the utmost care to ensure healthy delivery. Shipping and handling charges are calculated based on the tables below. Please note that some items include an additional handling surcharge, these will be noted on the item's product page.
| From | To | S&H |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $19.99 | $24.99 |
| $20 | $49.99 | $29.99 |
| $50 | $69.99 | $34.99 |
| $70 | $99.99 | $39.99 |
| $100 | $129.99 | $44.99 |
| $130 | $149.99 | $48.99 |
| $150 | $150+ | Approx 28% |
Click here to see our full rates
Understanding Plant Options
Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:
- Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
- Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements
Container Plant Sizes
Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.
Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2" x 2" x 3" | 0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts | 0.20 - 0.23 dry liters |
| 4" Container | 0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts | 0.35 - 0.96 dry liters |
| 4.5" Container | 0.65 dry quarts | 0.72 dry liters |
| 6" Container | 1.4 dry quarts | 1.59 dry liters |
| 1 Quart | 1 dry quart | 1.1 dry liters |
| 5.5" Container | 1.89 dry quarts | 2.08 dry liters |
Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Quart | 2 dry quarts | 2.2 dry liters |
| #1 Container | 2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts | 2.49 - 4.11 dry liters |
| 5" x 5" x 12" | 3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts | 3.85 - 4.74 dry liters |
Mature Plants (2-4 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #2 Container | 1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons | 5.24 - 7.75 dry liters |
| #3 Container | 2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons | 8.14 - 12.16 dry liters |
Large Plants (3-5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #5 Container | 2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons | 12.86 - 20.35 dry liters |
| #6 Container | 5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons | 23.12 - 26.42 dry liters |
| #7 Container | 5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons | 26.34 - 28.76 dry liters |
Bare Root Plants
Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.
Common Sizes:
- Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
- Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet
Important Notes
Container Volume Specifications
- Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
- Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
- Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents
Growing Conditions
- Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
- Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
- Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment
Seasonal Availability
- Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
- Container plants are available throughout the growing season
- Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes
Questions?
For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.
Plant Highlights
Sweet Birch Tree highlights at a glance!
Specifications
Specifications
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Brand
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Botanical Name
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Growing Zones
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Mature Height
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Mature Spread
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Sun ExposureFull Sun, Partial Shade
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Moisture
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Soil
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Growth RateMedium
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Flower Color
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Fall Color
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Pruning Time
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Bloom PeriodEarly Spring, Late Spring
Growing Zones 3 - 8
A beautiful eastern U.S. native, the Sweet Birch Tree (Betula lenta) features a wide range of gorgeous landscape appeal! Even before growth explodes in spring, the brownish-black scaly bark and reddish-brown stems shine in the winter landscape. Prominently growing throughout the US has earned the Sweet Birch common names like Black Birch, Cherry Birch, or Mahogany Birch due to the bark's resemblance to Cherry trees!
Then spring fills out the lithe branching with fresh, toothy green foliage and decorated by pendulous male and female catkins, with the female fruit maturing in fall. The twigs, when scraped, have a strong scent of wintergreen, giving it another common name - the Spice Birch. The yellow fall color rounds out your season.
These trees can be tapped similarly to Maple trees and can be boiled the same as Maple sap, but its syrup is stronger in flavor. It can also be used to make Birch Beer! The oldest has been confirmed as 368 years old!
Planting and Application:
Light and airy branching that brings a lively motion to the garden with the slightest breeze, Sweet Birch lends dappled shade to the landscape and are incredibly ornamental lawn trees and specimen plantings. Great in groups of 3 or 5 for a naturalized look, or plant a single tree as a fantastic front yard accent or anchor for your foundation plantings, you cannot go wrong with this hardy native.
Bird-friendly trees, the buds, blooms, and seeds support songbirds and numerous insects, which Insect-eating birds feast on and also feed their hungry chicks. The branches shelter and provide nesting sites too!
Shade a patio or seating area with a Sweet Birch or include them in a shelterbelt or biodiverse mixed border planting. Not minding moisture and widely adaptable once established, native Birch Trees can handle occasionally wet soils and even drought.
- Lush Ornamental Green Leaves
- Cut Spring Catkins & Fall Seedpods
- Golden Yellow Fall Color
- Reddish Bark Exfoliates & Peels With Age
- Long-Lived Shade, Specimen & Bird Habitat
- Traditional Source of Favoring Birch Beer
#ProPlantTips for Care:
Sweet Birch Trees are hardy throughout USDA 3 - 8, and grow best in full sun, part shade, and even full shade! Provide a well-drained moist site, these trees are widely and wildly adaptable! Plant with Nature Hills Root Booster and a 3-4 inch deep layer of mulch over the soil surface to support the root system for life. Prune these trees in the early spring after the leaves bud to prevent sap from dripping.
Growing quickly when young, these are very long-lived specimens! The bark doesn't take on the traditional peeling appearance until trees are much more mature.
- Full Sun & Adapts to More Shade
- Versatile in Most Well-Drained Soil Types
- Moist to Wet Conditions & Drought Tolerant
- Prune Later In Spring
- Hardy Natives & Deer Seldom Bother Birch Trees
A choice addition to your backyard and boosting local ecology in your area, the native Sweet Birch Tree will provide generations of shade, beauty, and habitat! Order now at NatureHills.com!
