Betula lenta aka Cherry Birch

Betula lenta, also known as sweet birch, black birch, cherry birch, mahogany birch, or spice birch, is a species of deciduous tree native to eastern North America. It can be found from southern Maine to southernmost Ontario, and south in the Appalachian Mountains to northern Georgia. This medium-sized tree can reach heights of up to 30 meters, with a trunk diameter of 60 cm. The bark starts off smooth and develops vertical cracks into irregular scaly plates as the tree matures. The twigs have a strong scent of wintergreen when scraped. The leaves are alternate and ovate, with finely serrated margins, and turn yellow in autumn. Wind-pollinated catkins appear in early spring, with the male catkins hanging down and the female catkins standing upright. The fruit, which matures in the fall, consists of numerous tiny winged seeds packed between the catkin bracts. Betula lenta prefers well-drained soil and can tolerate a variety of soil types, including clay. It can grow in semi-shade or no shade and thrives in moist soil. This tree is valued for its aromatic properties and is often mistaken for a cherry tree.