A common medium-sized tree of low to medium elevations in the Mountains and adjacent areas in the Piedmont of North Carolina. The leaves are very similar to those of Yellow Birch (B. alleghaniensis), which is more common at high elevations, and have the same strong wintergreen scent when crushed.

Alleghany Co., NC 9/23/06.

Carroll Co., VA 9/24/06.

Detail of the cone-like fruiting structure. The scales are glabrous (smooth), while those of Yellow Birch are pubescent (hairy).

Carroll Co., VA 9/24/06.

Catkins develop the fall before they bloom.

Alleghany Co., NC 9/23/06.

Catkins in winter, before budbreak.

Carroll Co., VA 3/18/06.

The bark is blackish and smooth with horizontally elongated lenticels. Sometimes called Black Birch because of the blackish bark, it is similar to the bark of Black Cherry, which accounts for another of its other common names, Cherry Birch.

Carroll Co., VA 9/24/06.

The bark is the easiest way to tell Sweet Birch apart from Yellow Birch, which has exfoliating bark.

Bark of a mature tree.

Carroll Co., VA 10/16/06.

Bark on older trees becomes more cracked.

Carroll Co., VA 9/24/06.

A relatively young tree.

Carroll Co., VA 9/24/06.

Same tree in winter.

Carroll Co., VA 3/18/06.