Sweet Birch
Betula lenta
Betulaceae · broadleaf deciduous tree · introduced
Last updated
Plant Profile
Size & Form
Height
75 ft
Spread
35-45 ft
Growth Rate
Moderate
Size at 20 yr
15 ft
Lifespan
Moderate
Site Requirements
Light
Full Sun
Soil Drainage
Well Drained
Soil pH
3.6-6.8
Water
Moderate
Drought Tolerance
Medium
Hardiness
Zones 4b–9b
Ornamental Interest
Bloom Time
April to May
Fall Color
Yellow
Origin
extends from Maine to southern Ontario, south to Ohio and
Watch for this season
Coryneum blight (Shothole)High
Primary Infection - Flowers and Young Leaves
Cytospora CankerHigh
Peak Spore Production and Dispersal
Powdery MildewHigh
Active Conidial Spread
RustHigh
Uredinial Stage (Summer)
+ 14 more — see full disease and pest lists below
Diseases: Regionally Documented (19)
Multiple genera (Melampsoridium, Thekopsora, Naohidemyces... Rust Symptom category — not a single disease Canker Multiple Basidiomycete fungi cause wood decay in trees Wood Decay Armillaria spp. — primarily A Armillaria Root Rot Apiosporina morbosa Black Knot Monilinia fructicola and M Brown Rot Blossom Blight and Fruit Rot Rhizobium radiobacter (formerly Agrobacterium tumefaciens) Crown Gall Cytospora spp. (Valsa spp., Leucostoma spp.) Cytospora Canker Symptom category — not a single disease Leaf Spot Mottle leaf Necrotic rusty mottle virus (uncharacterized) Necrotic rusty mottle Multiple obligate biotrophic fungi (Erysiphales: Erysipha... Powdery Mildew Verticillium dahliae Verticillium Wilt Witches'-broom (Cherry leaf curl) Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae Bacterial Canker Prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV) Prunus Necrotic Ringspot Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae (bacterial canker complex) Dead Bud Little cherry virus-1 and Little cherry virus-2 Little Cherry Wilsonomyces carpophilus Coryneum blight (Shothole)
Pests: Regionally Documented (22)
Agrilus anxius Bronze birch borer Fenusa pusilla Birch leafminer Aphidoidea Aphid Lepidosaphes ulmi Oystershell scale Choreutis pariana Apple-and-thorn skeletonizer Myzus cerasi Black cherry aphid Halyomorpha halys Brown marmorated stink bug Enarmonia formosana Cherry bark tortrix Cherry fruit fly Noctuidae Cutworms and Armyworms Forficula auricularia Earwig Tortricidae Leafroller Synanthedon exitiosa Peachtree borer Pear slug (Cherry slug) Diaspidiotus perniciosus San Jose scale Scolytus rugulosus Shothole borer Tetranychidae Spider mite Drosophila suzukii Spotted-wing drosophila Prionoxystus robiniae Carpenterworm Hyphantria cunea Fall webworm Symphyta Sawfly Malacosoma spp. Tent caterpillar
Phenological Calendar
View full calendar (8 stages)
| Stage | Typical Window |
|---|---|
| Bud break BBCH 07 | Feb 15-Mar 15 |
| Leaf emergence BBCH 11 | Mar 1-Apr 1 |
| Bloom start BBCH 61 | May 1-May 31 |
| Bloom end / petal fall BBCH 69 | May 15-Jun 15 |
| Fruit/seed development BBCH 71 | Jun 1-Aug 31 |
| Fruit/seed maturity BBCH 85 | Sep 1-Nov 30 |
| Leaf drop BBCH 93 | Oct 15-Nov 30 |
| Dormancy BBCH 97 | Nov 15-Feb 28 |
Data Maturity Structured Multiple sources. Expert review underway.