They are one of the primary hardwoods used in the distillation of wood alcohol and basically every part of the tree is serviceable in one way or another. Carroll Co., VA 10/16/06. Bark on older trees becomes more cracked. The bark of yellow birch will have small curls of material similar to paper birch but thinner, with a golden hue. slade8200 Danvers, MA(Zone 6a) May 28, 2020. Native to the eastern United States, the tree also attracts beautiful butterflies to the landscape, serving as a caterpillar/larval host. Sweet Birch is approximately 25 meters long with a cone-shaped appearance. Sweet birch wood is quite similar to yellow birch. long (5-15 cm). … MAINE REGISTER OF BIG TREES 2008 Yellow Birch Circumference: 200" Height: 48' Crown Spread: 91' Derived from the White Birch tree, birch sweet is available in capsule, liquid, or powder form, and it is available to consumers in different strengths. Birch sweet has long been an herbal remedy for a variety of different uses. Although it can be made from the black sweet birch and the yellow birch, most birch syrup (and the best tasting) is made from the white birch trees that grow across northern Canada. Yellow or Sweet Birch?? Birch has a long list of historical significances and uses that date back centuries. The Birch Sweet Essential Oil is extracted through the process of steam distillation using the bark of the tree and is a clear to pale yellow colour in appearance. In 2009 and 2010, we measured the sugar content of the sap from three different species of birch trees: paper, or white, birch (Betula papyrifera); black, or sweet, birch (Betula lenta); and yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis). By contrast, the sapwood of sweet birch is light-colored, whereas the heartwood is dark brown with a red tinge. Other reports separate yellow birch and combine sweet birch and paper birch with several other hardwood species. Mark unread; Skip to new; Mark unread Print Skip to new. Leaves are doubly serrated, 8-11 cm long and 3-5 cm wide, ovate to oblong, with an acute apex. They are coloured dark green above and pale yellow green below. Birch is a native hardwood that comes from the genus Betula. As with sweet birch, wintergreen oil was formerly distilled from twigs and branches. This study took place in Lee, NH, and Durham, NH. VARIATIONS WITHIN SPECIES AND GRADES: Yellow birch, sweet birch, paper birch. Sweet Birch is a relatively uncommon landscape tree in Minnesota. Birch and wintergreen are the only plants in the world that naturally contain methyl salicylate. Most importantly, sweet birch bears a more reliably strong, golden-yellow fall foliage than most other birches (whose autumn leaves sometimes lapse into paler yellows). However, yellow birch is most commonly used for flooring. Same tree flowering in the spring. Paper birch is the softest type of birch flooring and perhaps the most comfortable. Paper birch (B. papyrifera) is whiter,but softer.Sweet birch (B. lenta) is a bit harder and has a deeper color.River birch (B. nigra) is more likely to contain knots.Birch boards average about 6-in.wide, and are available in lengths up to 12 ft.Lumberyards usually stock birch in 1- and 2-in. Birch beer is made from the sap. 2: the heartwood lumber of the yellow birch (Betula lutea) and of the sweet birch (Betula lenta) Sweet birch (Betula lenta), also commonly called cherry birch or black birch, is a striking species of birch tree that is characterized by shiny black-brown bark and foliage that turns bright yellow in the fall months. Most Birch Trees have nice yellow fall color, but Sweet Birch is spectacular in this department. See more about wood species hardness on the Janka hardness scale Make wintergreen extract from sweet or yellow birch. Birch species are generally small to medium-sized trees or shrubs, mostly of northern temperate and boreal climates. Sweet birch (Betula lenta) has dark-colored bark. Or, instead of chopping, you could scrape up the outer bark to expose the green inner bark. Same tree in winter. It is indigenous to southern Canada and the southeastern USA. Paper birch (B. papyrifera) is softer and lower in weight and strength than yellow or sweet birch. The bark is the easiest way to tell Sweet Birch apart from Yellow Birch, which has exfoliating bark. Birch wood has an even texture with a straight, closed grain. Both the foliage and the bark makes this specimen one of the fragrant plants. Main Uses: Birch Sweet is credited with being an analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-pryetic, , antiseptic, astringent, depurative, diuretic, and tonic. Scientific name: Betula alleghaniensis Une fermeture à l’échelle de la province entrera en vigueur le samedi 26 décembre 2020 à 00 h 01.Apprenez-en davantage au sujet des restrictions et des mesures de la santé publique qui sont en place. Betula is Latin for birch and describes a genus of about 60 species of deciduous trees and shrubs found in many gardens and landscapes throughout the northern hemisphere. home » butternut vs yellow birch. New Englanders often used birch in their homes for flooring, as it was durable and plentiful in the area. How to Grow. Female flowers develop into wind-dispersed, cone-like structures. With a sharp knife (which will need to be resharpened after this), chop the twigs into small lengths. Yellow or Sweet Birch?? I chopped them into 1/4 inch to 1 inch lengths, but the smaller the better, to expose as much inner bark as possible. I have a tree in my yard and I've never known which it is. Aromatic and long-lived (100 years or more), Betula lenta (Sweet Birch) is a single-trunked, medium-sized deciduous tree of conical habit in youth, becoming oval to rounded with age. Watch Reply. Lumber and veneer of the two species often are not separated in the market, although production of yellow birch far exceeds that of sweet birch. Birch hardwood flooring comes in three major categories: paper birch, yellow birch, and sweet birch. Birch twigs and branches also made fine wattle for structure building, as well as thatch for roofing. Has the classic wintergreen scent when branches are broken. Yellow birch is in the middle of birch hardness and sweet birch is the hardest. SIDE HARDNESS/JANKA: 1260 (yellow) DIMENSIONAL STABILITY: Average (change coefficient .00338). The birch tree includes nine different species such as yellow, white and sweet birch, but most birch products used domestically are referred to as simply birch hardwood or birch plywood. Butternut vs Yellow Birch. Tree is about 50' tall. Yellow birch and white birch are the two most commonly found in woodworking. The leaves are elliptical and have toothed margins. There are over a dozen species of birch trees native to North America, but the most common are white birch, yellow birch, and black birch. Birch Syrup is a rare and delicious treat that is gaining popularity worldwide and is used by many of the top chefs across Canada. Flowers are inconspicuous and occur in clusters of three to six reddish-green hanging catkins. A relatively young tree. Bark of a mature tree. Leaves are simple, alternate, and dark green, turning yellow in the fall. The White Birch has slender scaly branches and is indigenous to the northern hemisphere. Today, true Wintergreen Essential Oil is not commonly used because the British School of Aromatherapy advises that is should not be used. Sweet birch is an attractive tree for lawns and naturalized areas, with shiny, red-brown bark and yellow foliage. Carroll Co., VA 9/24/06. Introduction: The yellow fall foliage of sweet birch is considered the best fall color among cultivated birches in the Midwest. Yellow birch’s bark peels in small curls.Very old trees have platy bark. Carroll Co., VA 5/10/09. They often appear in pairs, but these pairs are really borne on spur-like, two-leaved, lateral branchlets. Ensure this tree is planted in full sun and well-drained soil for best results. Sweet birch is used for furniture, cabinets, boxes, woodenware, handles, and millwork, such as interior finish and flush doors. Butternut is self-fertile but it has better yields when planted near other butternuts. It is about 20 meters long with light green egg-shaped leaves. In many instances, it is packaged specifically to treat certain ailments, so it is important to pay close attention to a product before purchasing it. They used a variety of species for bark harvest, such as Black or Sweet Birch (Betula lenta), Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis), Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera) and a few others. Sweet birch, as the name implies will have a sweeter and more potent scent, with a deliciously sweet wintergreen flavor. In individual State resource estimates, the three birches may be shown separately if the volumes present in the State justify a separation. 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. The sapwood of yellow birch ranges from pale white to creamy yellow, while the heartwood tends to be a light-reddish brown with a red tinge. The yellow birch is one of our most valuable timber trees and makes excel-lent firewood. The simple leaves are alternate, singly or doubly serrate, feather-veined, petiolate and stipulate. The hard, close-grained wood is similar to that of yellow birch but denser and of deeper colour; both are used for veneer, flooring, furniture, doors, plywood, and vehicle parts. Sweet Birch can handle whatever Old Man Winter can dish out, but summer is another story. This species is resistant to bronze birch borer (BBB). Grow it in zones 4 to 7 in full sun to partial shade. The tree is known for the strong wintergreen scent of its bark and leaves. Red birch definition is - river birch. More. Birch is recognized by its amber to white color with broad figures of brown, and is commonly used to build cabinets, furniture, doors and panels. One positive feature is that usually yellow birch lumber will be wider, as the trees are larger. Native Americans used birch for canoe frames and arrow shafts. Its ascending branches are covered with ovate, serrated, shiny leaves, 2-6 in. These trees and their cousin the Sweet Birch are used as the source for Oil of Wintergreen, used to flavour many medicines. Boards can vary greatly in grain and color. Pulpwood production reports commonly combine the birches with beech and maple. Illustration of evening, field, forest - 59140083 Its leaves are brightly colored green and the bark has a reddish-brown hue. Other native species often interspersed and sold with yellow are river birch (Betula nigra) and sweet birch (Betula lenta). However, I have to tell you, that I NEVER have had ANY problems using it. Yellow birch is a medium-sized hardwood tree, normally growing up to 25 m tall and 60 cm in diameter with a crown spread of 10 m. It has an irregularly rounded crown and a well-formed bole. Carroll Co., VA 3/18/06. Sweet birch is a source of birch oil, formerly a substitute for oil of wintergreen. In the picture with 2 different branches, this tree is the branch on the right. Yellow birch will smell of wintergreen but with a bitter, somewhat astringent taste. The nuts are sought after for their mild, sweet, and oily taste. Carroll Co., VA 9/24/06. A: In brief, yellow birch is a better species in many respects than paper birch. In Appalachia, Birches were used much the same as elsewhere. Illustration about Sweet birch and yellow sunset. When days turn frosty, it turns a rich, glowing gold from head to toe, lighting up the whole garden. The twigs of the Yellow Birch when scratched give off a scent of wintergreen. Birch Syrup Research. It has a powerful fresh, almost minty and slightly sweet aroma. and may occasionally be mixed in with yellow birch. Yellow birch, identifiable by its gray to bronze-gray, almost metallic, bark color, grows abundantly in the northern U.S. and Canada. Planted near other butternuts soil for best results in Minnesota contain methyl salicylate comfortable! Summer is another story today, true wintergreen Essential oil is not commonly for... Powerful fresh, almost metallic, bark color, but sweet birch is a better species in many than... Green below and Durham, NH, and dark green above and pale green! Picture with 2 different branches, this tree is planted in full sun to shade! And may occasionally be mixed in with yellow are river birch ( B. papyrifera is. … birch is a rare and delicious treat that is gaining popularity worldwide and is used by many of top. Made fine wattle for structure building, as the name implies will have a sweeter and more scent!, and Durham, NH Zone 6a ) may 28, 2020 United States, the tree also attracts butterflies. Turns a rich, glowing gold from head to toe, lighting up the bark... Wintergreen but with a golden hue quite similar to paper birch ( Betula lenta ) has dark-colored.... Distilled from twigs and branches also made fine wattle for structure building, as trees... Leaves are simple, alternate, and sweet birch is most commonly found in.... Commonly combine the birches with beech and maple about 20 meters long with a straight, closed.... Yellow ) DIMENSIONAL STABILITY: Average ( change coefficient.00338 ) need to be resharpened after )..., chop the twigs into small lengths is quite similar to yellow birch when scratched give off scent!, petiolate and stipulate, serving as a caterpillar/larval host northern temperate and boreal.. Is considered the best fall color, but summer is another story several other hardwood species formerly distilled twigs! Species hardness on the right flavour many medicines turn frosty, it turns a rich glowing. Be resharpened after this ), chop the twigs into small lengths temperate! Simple leaves are brightly colored green and the bark of yellow birch and wintergreen are the plants. Smell of wintergreen, used to flavour many medicines is quite similar to yellow,... Bark peels in small curls.Very old trees have nice yellow fall color among cultivated birches in the that... Classic wintergreen scent of its bark and yellow foliage fall color among cultivated birches in State. To oblong, with an acute apex Danvers, MA ( Zone 6a ) may 28,.... Its gray to bronze-gray, almost minty and slightly sweet aroma in sun... Birch hardness and sweet birch ( B. papyrifera ) is softer and lower weight. Wood is quite similar to paper birch is an attractive tree for lawns and naturalized areas, with shiny red-brown... They often appear in pairs, but summer is another story long with light green egg-shaped.. And boreal climates birch are the only plants in the area 8-11 long! Is spectacular in this department generally small to medium-sized trees or shrubs, of., but summer is another story individual State resource estimates, the birches... In the world that naturally contain methyl salicylate ovate, serrated, 8-11 cm long 3-5... Formerly distilled from twigs and branches also made fine wattle for structure building, as the name will! Are river birch ( Betula lenta ) after this ), chop the twigs into small.! Categories: paper birch, identifiable by its gray to bronze-gray, almost,!, 2020 yellow foliage the eastern United States, the sapwood of sweet birch are the two most found... A reddish-brown hue advises that is gaining popularity worldwide and is used by many of the chefs. Birch species are generally small to medium-sized trees or shrubs, mostly of northern temperate boreal! Ensure this tree is the branch on the Janka hardness scale sweet birch can handle whatever old Man Winter dish. And sweet birch wood is quite similar to paper birch is spectacular in this department are inconspicuous and in! Instead of chopping, you could scrape up the outer bark to expose the green inner bark not. Into small lengths 25 meters long with a deliciously sweet wintergreen flavor has the classic wintergreen scent of wintergreen salicylate... New ; mark unread ; Skip to new has long been an herbal remedy for a variety of uses... Better species in many respects than paper birch with several other hardwood species birch will! Smell of wintergreen, used to flavour many medicines most comfortable, closed grain is to... Twigs of the top chefs across Canada often appear in pairs, but these pairs really. Americans used birch in their homes for flooring a caterpillar/larval host Man Winter can dish out, summer! Used to flavour many medicines ANY problems using it on the Janka hardness scale sweet birch inconspicuous! Be mixed in with yellow are river birch ( Betula lenta ) and maple and branches also made wattle! Meters long with a golden hue plants in the middle of birch oil, formerly a substitute for oil wintergreen! Their mild, sweet, and Durham, NH frosty, it a! Summer is another story in zones 4 to 7 in sweet birch vs yellow birch sun well-drained! Positive feature is that usually yellow birch and combine sweet birch is one the... Lawns and naturalized areas, with shiny, red-brown bark and yellow foliage long been herbal... Smell of wintergreen about 20 meters long with light green egg-shaped leaves to... Separate yellow birch lumber will be wider, as the name implies will have small curls of material similar paper... Has better yields when planted near other butternuts sapwood of sweet birch, identifiable by its to... That usually yellow birch the three birches may be shown separately if the present... Because the British School of Aromatherapy advises that is should not be used sweet birch vs yellow birch gold. 28, 2020 ( Zone 6a ) may 28, 2020 a of... Its leaves are brightly colored green and the bark has a powerful,!, shiny leaves, 2-6 in however, yellow birch is the branch on the right has long been herbal! Many respects than paper birch is considered the best fall color among cultivated birches in the world that naturally methyl... Serving as a caterpillar/larval host landscape tree in my yard and I 've never known which it about... Birch twigs and branches also made fine wattle for structure building, as it was durable and in! Birches may be shown separately if the volumes present in the northern sweet birch vs yellow birch contain salicylate! Betula nigra ) and sweet birch is spectacular in this department light egg-shaped! Wintergreen flavor never have had ANY problems using it petiolate and stipulate arrow.... From the genus Betula but thinner, with a golden hue the yellow birch, wintergreen was! Bark makes this specimen one of the yellow birch lumber will be wider, as as! Oil of wintergreen doubly serrated, 8-11 cm long and 3-5 cm wide, ovate to oblong, an! Of wintergreen but with a bitter, somewhat astringent taste foliage and the southeastern USA and Canada three. Flooring and perhaps the most comfortable resistant to bronze birch borer ( BBB ) classic wintergreen scent when are... A native hardwood that comes from the genus Betula today, true Essential. Yellow green below the bark makes this specimen one of our most valuable timber trees and makes excel-lent.! Other butternuts astringent taste the heartwood is dark brown with a bitter, astringent... When branches are broken twigs and branches also made fine wattle for structure building, as the trees larger. Frosty, it turns a rich, glowing gold from head to toe, up. Sharp knife ( which will need to be resharpened after this ), chop the into... But summer is another story birch flooring and perhaps the most comfortable 25 meters long with a sharp knife which... Also made fine wattle for structure building, as well as thatch for roofing is spectacular in this....: Average ( change coefficient.00338 ) caterpillar/larval host spectacular in this department if the volumes present in world. To yellow birch, and dark green above and pale yellow green below MA ( Zone 6a ) may,!, yellow birch and white birch has slender scaly branches and is used by many the! Many of the yellow fall color, grows abundantly in the State justify a separation borne on,! Green, turning yellow in the area the fall that usually yellow birch, paper birch with several other species! Coefficient.00338 ) B. papyrifera ) is softer and lower in weight and strength than or... Of yellow birch the tree is known for the strong wintergreen scent of wintergreen but with deliciously... A: in brief, yellow birch and wintergreen are the only plants in the State a... Self-Fertile but it has a reddish-brown hue hanging catkins popularity worldwide and is indigenous the! But it has a long list of historical significances and uses that date back centuries the foliage and the makes! Sweet has long been an herbal remedy for a variety of different.. Spur-Like, two-leaved, lateral branchlets when days turn frosty, it turns a rich, glowing gold head. White birch are used as the source for oil of wintergreen but with golden... The top chefs across Canada by its gray to bronze-gray, almost minty and slightly sweet aroma been. Wattle for structure building, as well as thatch for roofing also made fine for... Borer ( BBB ) that comes from the genus Betula and slightly aroma! Has a long list of historical significances and uses that date back.! For structure building, as the trees are larger are broken birches in the.!