White fragrant flowers in early summer. Trees in poor health seem to be more susceptible. Sourwood flowers are very attractive to bees, and sourwood honey is common in the South. Lumber is used for tool handles and was once used to make wagon sled runners. Pests are usually not a problem for Sourwood. Bees produce a rich and popular honey from the nectar. This tree can easily be identified by their lush dark green foliage which turns a striking fiery red in . Blossoms bloom on sender panicles and have a faint fragrance. Just like the leaves, these flowers also have a fresh, acidic taste. To grow Oxydendrum arboreum, keep the ground well-watered during dry spells. The brownish capsules measure up to 0.5 (1.2 cm) long and provide visual ornamental interest contrasting with the vibrantly colored red foliage. But the best known by-product of the Sourwood tree is the hard-to-find and extremely delicious honey that bees produce from the fragrant blossoms. Trees in poor health seem to be more susceptible. The leaves are dark green in summer and change to red or a mix of red and orange in fall. The leaves are used as a thirst-quencher by hikers and mountain climbers, and were once brewed to make a tonic. Sourwood's shallow root system resents competition from nearby grass or plants. Birch Trees: Types, Leaves, Bark - Identification (With Images), Types of Trees With Thorns (Pictures and Names) - Identification Guide, White Oak Tree: Leaves, Bark, Fruit (Acorn) (Picture) Identification, Tree Fertilizers: When and How (Including The Best Tree Fertilizers), Sourwood Tree (Oxydendrum arboreum): Leaves, Bark, Flowers Identification Guide (With Pictures), panicles of creamy-white, urn-shaped flowers, Small or Dwarf Weeping Trees for Landscaping, Small Trees for Landscaping Compact Spaces. PLANTFILES. We offer 3 days to report any problems with your order. Her thousands of published articles cover topics from travel and gardening to pet care and technology. The leaves are dark, lustrous green and appear to weep or hang from the twigs while branches droop toward the ground. Another great tree that will fill out any landscape! The sourwood can be expected to grow in Hardiness Zones 59. The attractive features of a sourwood tree are its pretty urn-shaped white flower clusters (panicles), stunning foliage that turns shades of crimson-red to reddish-purple color in the fall, and attractive red-brown bark. Second, the trees dont perform well in compact soil or cope with drought. Moderately resistant to deer damage. Leaves are dark, lustrous green and appear to weep or hang from the twigs. The name Sourwood is derived from the acrid taste of its leaves, but tea made from these leaves is widely used by mountain climbers as a thirst-quencher. . FORUMS. They can grow to 8 inches (20 cm.) The Sourwood tree (Oxydendrum arboreum) is also known as the lily of the valley because of its beautiful flowers. Fall webworm can defoliate portions of the tree in summer and fall but usually control is not needed. After filling the hole and. It is intolerant of pollution and urban areas. Sourwood is a pyramidal to oval tree that grows 25 to 30 feet high and 20 to 25 feet wide. U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness, Different Types Of Sorrel - Learn About Common Sorrel Varieties, Sorrel Plant Uses - Tips On Using Sorrel Herbs In Cooking, Using Sorrel Herbs - How To Prepare Sorrel Plants, Growing Hostas In Colorado And The Southwest US, Problems With Butterfly Bushes: Common Butterfly Bush Pests And Diseases, Pears And Fire Blight: How To Treat Pear Tree Blight, Hardy Kiwi Diseases: How To Treat A Sick Kiwi Plant, Feeding Amaryllis Plants Learn How And When To Fertilize Amaryllis Bulbs, Home & Garden Marketplace: Advertiser Info. Sourwood honey is very popular where this tree is found in abundance. Plant in full sun to partial shade and dry or moist soil, but ensure it is well-drained. Prepared by Mary P. Tucker for the Georgia Native Plant Society. Young sourwood trees with green and red leaves. When a sourwood tree is young, it's important to trim it down so that it develops into a stunning form. Keep the soil evenly moist. This slowly spreading fungal infection can cause die-back where new growth doesnt appear or leaves wilt suddenly. It has simple, alternate, 3 to 8 inch, elongated leaves with finely toothed edges. last year. The simple leaves have a conspicuous midrib and fine feather-like veining. By late August, it is common to see foliage of young sourwood trees along roadsides beginning to turn red. Space sourwood 15 to 20 feet apart; the tree grows 25 to 35 feet tall and 15 to 20 feet wide. Sourwood trees are hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9. A tea made from the leaves has been used in the treatment of asthma, diarrhoea, indigestion. An Equal Opportunity University. The flowers droop from the stem and have a pleasant, sweet fragrance. Getting rid of borers that infest a sourwood tree can be challenging. The trunk of a sourwood tree is straight and slender, the bark fissured and gray, and the crown narrow. It is the ideal ornamental tree when it reaches maturity when it can bloom after about its fifth season. Small sourwood trees are usually planted as specimen trees to provide multi-season interest. Prune an older tree to maintain its shape and remove pest-damaged, broken, rubbing or downward-growing limbs. The bark develops deep furrows and scaly patterns like the alligator hide-type bark of black tupelo trees. Techniques have been described for sourwood seed collection, storage, and germination (2,5,14). However, it can do significant damage to your trees leaves. Branches droop toward the ground forming a graceful outline when planted as a single specimen. Click this article to learn about the planting and care of sourwood trees. The Sourwood trees are native to the Black Mountains and Appalachian mountains regions that extend from the south of New York to eastern Canada. Sourwood's bark is grayish brown tinged with red, and deeply furrowed with scaly ridges. Grow it as a specimen, with a layer of mulch protecting its root zone from volunteering competitors. Honey made by bees from its flowers is highly prized and . sourwood, sorrel tree, lily-of-the-valley tree. Reportedly not highly drought tolerant, but there are beautiful specimens in USDA hardiness zone 7 growing in the open sun in poor clay with no irrigation. Taking Care Of Sourwood Tree Bright sunlight is a must for sourwood trees. The tree does reasonably well in dry, neutral soils. If you encounter issues loading this site, please refresh the page by using Ctrl + F5 if on Windows or Cmd + Shift + R if on Mac. Sourwood trees are relatively small, slow-growing, and reach 20 to 30 ft. (6 10 m) tall and wide. It is reportedly sensitive to air pollution injury. Oxydendrum arboreum, Sourwood Tree. Sourwood Honey ~ Pure, Raw, Delicious. If you are thinking of planting sourwood trees, youll want to learn more sourwood tree information. Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: Fall webworm is an occasional problem. A properly watered sourwood can survive for more than 75 years. It makes an excellent specimen or understory tree or planted in small groups in a woodland garden. Instead, you can collect the seeds from the brown seed capsules and start to germinate them in January. Occasionally young specimens have a more open spreading habit reminiscent of Redbud.Crown density: denseGrowth rate: slowTexture: medium, Plant Image Library / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0, Trunk/bark/branches: droop as the tree grows, and will require pruning for vehicular or pedestrian clearance beneath the canopy; not particularly showy; should be grown with a single leader; no thornsPruning requirement: needs little pruning to develop a strong structureBreakage: resistantCurrent year twig color: green; reddishCurrent year twig thickness: medium; thin, Leaf arrangement: alternateLeaf type: simpleLeaf margin: entire; serrulate; undulateLeaf shape: lanceolate; oblongLeaf venation: banchidodrome; pinnateLeaf type and persistence: deciduousLeaf blade length: 4 to 8 inchesLeaf color: green Fall color: orange; red Fall characteristic: showy. Below are common attributes associated to Sourwood Tree. Common Name: sourwood Type: Tree Family: Ericaceae Native Range: Eastern and southern United States Zone: 5 to 9 Height: 20.00 to 50.00 feet Spread: 10.00 to 25.00 feet Bloom Time: June to July Bloom Description: White Sun: Full sun to part shade Water: Medium Maintenance: Low Suggested Use: Flowering Tree Flower: Showy, Fragrant Leaf: Good Fall Common names: It goes by many other common or local names including sorrel tree, sorrel gum, sour gum, arrow wood, elk tree, lily-of-the-valley tree and titi tree. Sourwood is important as a source of honey in some areas and sourwood honey is marketed locally. Sourwood Tree Seedling gets its name from its sour-tasting leaves. A native tree of North America, the sourwood is one of the few endemic trees that is not found in other continents unless planted and has no related species. Sourwood Tree Fertilization Sourwood trees can benefit from fertilization once a year in late fall. Let your sourwood establish for a year before fertilizing. Honey from the sourwood tree is known as North Carolina's most famous . In the wild, its bark often looks blocky like that of persimmon. Sourwood Trees have a reputation of being very difficult to grow in domestication. Sourwood tree is a plant that is native to eastern North America. The leaves of the sourwood tree are oblong-shaped and have a leathery texture. 96. Slow growth rate to 30 feet (9 m) in cultivation, greater in the wild. Is used by bees to produce highly prized honey. The normal standard of watering weekly for the first two seasons applies, at a rate of two to three gallons a week per trunk diameter measured by caliper at chest height. For questions about home gardening, landscaping or commercial horticulture production, please contact your county extension agent. How to Water and Feed Sourwood. Sourwood products were used to treat urinary problems (increase urine flow / diuretic), enlarged prostate, bowel . Sourwood is a tree for all seasons and is found in the forest understory, along roadsides and a pioneering tree in clearings. Sourwood Oxydendrum arboreum. There are two issues to consider when using sourwood trees in the landscape. To get rid of webworms, you can cut the webs open to expose the larvae to birds that feed on them. Most if not all issues that come up will either resolve themselves or be so minor that they can be overlooked as simply a nuisance. During summer, long panicles of distinctive creamy-white bell-shaped fragrant flowers help to identify the tree. Read on to learn about the planting and care of sourwood trees. Sourwood Tree Facts: Learn About The Care Of Sourwood Trees By Teo Spengler Sourwood trees offer delight in every season. Les Engles achieved Master Gardener through theCamden County Extension of the Rutgers Master Gardeners Program. Cooperative Extension, which staffs local offices in all 100 counties and with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. . This tree is planted in groves for honey production; sourwood honey is delicious. N.C. Sourwood, (Oxydendrum Arboreum), excellent fall color, slightly fragrant flowers, low maintenance, planting zones 5-9, blooms June-July WoodenFishFarms (703) $31.95 100 Lily of the Valley Sourwood Seeds (Oxydendrum arboreum) | Honey Bee Tree AllSunshineGardening (2,374) $2.95 FREE shipping To care properly for sourwood tree, it requires well-drained organically rich acidic soil and full sun for best results. The best way to get rid of caterpillars is to handpick them and kill them in soapy water. Sourwood is an attractive tree with white flowers that bloom in early summer and excellent fall color. The Sourwood ( Oxydendrum arboreum) is considered as an ornamental and shade tree. Just the Facts. Leaf spot and twig blight infrequently occur on the Sourwood tree. The mid- to late-summer flowers are borne in terminal clusters of racemes which curve upward, creating a graceful effect at flowering time. It has a slow growth rate and no serious pest or disease problems. Oxydendrum arboreum, or Sourwood, is a deciduous smalltree that may grow 20 to 30feet tall and a trunk 8 to 12 inches in diameter. Sourwood rarely needs pruning. . The growth rate is 2-3 feet each year. sourwood, also called sorrel, (species Oxydendrum arboreum ), deciduous ornamental tree, of the heath family (Ericaceae), native to southeastern North America. Answer (1 of 2): Sourwood leaves are edible; they have a pleasant acidic taste. And the honey made from the flowers of the sourwood tree is prized by beekeepers and is often sold at a higher price. The dense, glossy green foliage appears in spring, and the branches have a somewhat weeping or drooping habit. Sourwood Tree. This site was last updated on March 3, 2023. The scientific name for sourwood comes from the Greek words oxys (acid) and dendron (tree) and refers to the sour taste of its leaves. It will have a slight fall off in fall color and blossoms as a result of not receiving full sun but will still be stunning. Bowel movements were also doctored using these leaves, making them regular and aiding patients during sudden, . Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum). This tree has a rounded top and branches that droop, making it appear graceful. Honey Jar Mock-Up - Male hands holding a honey jar on a gray. The tree grows slowly, adapts to sun or shade, and prefers a slightly acid, peaty loam. Leaves contain oxalic acid and acidic to taste. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful home and garden ever. Passionate for travel and the well-written word, Judy Wolfe is a professional writer with a Bachelor of Arts in English literature from Cal Poly Pomona and a certificate in advanced floral design. Gourmet honey is produced by the many bees that are attracted to the nectar-laden flowers. Terminal inflorescences resemble the elongated, bony fingers of a witch. The Sourwood tree is renowned for its nectar, and for the honey which is produced from it. The sourwood grows in acidic, loamy, moist, sandy, well-drained and clay soils. Size: City trees are usually about 25-30' at maturity. The juice from these flowers is usually used to make sourwood jelly. The trees typically grow 25 feet (8 m.) tall in your backyard but can shoot up to 60 feet (18 m.) tall in the wild. This native tree grows throughout the Eastern United States from Florida, Louisiana, and North Carolina north to Pennsylvania. It is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree that grows to be 20-30 feet tall. Sourwood Honey is one of the most sought after honeys in the world. It is the only guaranteed way that I have found of beating . Its interesting to read up on sourwood tree facts. The fall color of sourwood is a striking red and orange and associated with blackgum and sassafras. Several fungal diseases can affect the growth of a sourwood tree. Sycamore Diseases. For an ornamental plant, the sourwood does not have huge levels of thirst. Sourwood honey also has antibacterial properties. this difficulty can be overcome by studying the conditions under which it grows best. It prefers normal moisture but has some drought tolerance. After the seedlings have developed two leaves, keep only the strongest ones and discard the rest. A native tree of North America, the sourwood is one of the few endemic trees that is not found in other continents unless planted and has no related species. Waxy, lily-of-the-valley-like, white bell-shaped flowers that bloom on slender, second on axis, drooping, one-sided slender terminal panicles (4 to 8 inches long) from June to July. The best way to water the tree is to apply a trickle of water over several hours to irrigate the roots thoroughly. Too much cool air, humidity, and ground moisture can cause leaf spot fungi to affect foliage. Flowers have a 5 lobed calyx and an urceolate corolla that is finely downy, white, 5-lobed, and minute. HU-278742553. Keep the seedling tray in a warm place and under a fluorescent lamp for 24 hours a day. It is 118 feet tall with a 2-foot trunk. Store in a cool place and keep roots moist . Discover more about the small businesses partnering with Amazon and Amazon's . Mix peat, composted pine bark or other organic material into the removed soil and begin refilling the hole, stopping halfway to water the roots and let the tree settle. Sourwood sprouts often interfere with the establishment of more desirable species in second . The university does not review, control or take responsibility for the contents of those sites. Twig borers lay eggs in the trees stems, and when the larvae hatch, they feed on new tissue growth inside the branches. The Sourwood Tree has few disease or pest problems and it can be treated effortlessly for the ones it does come across. In addition, the leaves of the sourwood are said to have medicinal benefits, helping with: Fever reduction Dysentery Asthma Nausea Kidney and bladder problems To propagate a sourwood tree from seed, you need a seedling tray filled with a moist potting medium. sourwood. Leaf spots can discolor some leaves but are not serious other than causing premature defoliation. Attributes This tree: Blooms from June to early July, with fragrant white flowers on drooping stalks that look very similar to lilies-of-the-valley.