Ontario Trees & Shrubs website

Cherry Birch
Betula lenta

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.

  •   Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis)

  •   Green Alder (Alnus viridis)
  •   European Black Alder (Alnus glutinosa)
  •   Speckled Alder (Alnus incana)

Flowers: Spring

Leaves: Alternate, Simple, Toothed

Habitat: Forests;  Open forests.

Books: Trees in Canada: 295   

Native/Non-native: Native

Notes: Mature Cherry Birch trees are only found in a single location in Ontario: a single stand of them in Port Dalhousie (St. Catharines) on Lake Ontario, on private property. The tree featured on this page is a young one at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington, Ontario.

Origin and Meaning of Names:
 Scientific Name: lenta: tough, flexible


Photographs: 22 photographs available, of which 9 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.

Range Map is at the bottom of the page
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Cherry Birch (Betula lenta)

Bark of Cherry Birch is dark, not at all like White Birch (Betula papyrifera). This is the bark of a young tree. Note the similarity of the bark to that of Cherries - hence the tree's name: Cherry Birch! The two types of trees are easily confused.

Cherry Birch (Betula lenta)

The lower trunk.

Cherry Birch (Betula lenta)

The overall form of a young Cherry Birch.

Cherry Birch (Betula lenta)

Cherry Birch (Betula lenta)

The leaves are elliptical. This is the upper side of a leaf.

Cherry Birch (Betula lenta)

The underside of a leaf.

Cherry Birch (Betula lenta)

Male flowers in late May.

Cherry Birch (Betula lenta)

Catkins in June.

Cherry Birch (Betula lenta)

Developing fruit, in early July.
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Range map for Cherry Birch (Betula lenta)

PLEASE NOTE: A coloured Province or State means this species occurs somewhere in that Province/State.
The entire Province/State is coloured, regardless of where in that Province/State it occurs.

(Range map provided courtesy of the USDA website and is displayed here in accordance with their Policies)