Gray bark with reddish tinges helps to identify sourwood trees. The sourwood tree is an ornamental deciduous small tree famous for its white flowers, lanceolate leaves, gray-brown patterned bark, and red fall leaves. Sourwood - Oxydendrum arboreumHeath Family (Ericaceae). Scientific Name: Common Name: Scientific Name Pronounciation: Plant Type: Tree Plant Hardiness Zones: Plant Hardiness Zone (s): Usual Size: Flower: Bloom Time Notes: Leaf: Fruit: Wildlife: Natural Habitat: Propagation: Bloom Time: Sourwood flowers are very attractive to bees, and sourwood honey is common in the South. There is a second act to the Sourwood season, when, with the onset of cooler weather and shortening days it bursts forth into a breathtaking display of burgundy and red. Sign up for our newsletter. The amber-colored sourwood honey also has an aroma of cinnamon and cloves. Sourwood requires an acidic soil that is moist and well-drained. This tree grows to be 25-30 feet in height and has a spread of about 20 feet at full maturity. If you are thinking of planting sourwood trees, you'll want to learn more sourwood tree information. Resistant to fire. Culture: Sun to part shade. Flowers have a 5 lobed calyx and an urceolate corolla that is finely downy, white, 5-lobed, and minute. Sourwood products were used to treat urinary problems (increase urine flow / diuretic), enlarged prostate, bowel . Blossoms bloom on sender panicles and have a faint fragrance. Pests are usually not a problem for Sourwood. The Arbor Day Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation and education organization. Fragrant white blooms in July in elongated clusters. HU-278742553. Oxydendrum arboreum, Sourwood Tree. This tree produces fragrant, white sprays of flowers in early summer. Just like the leaves, these flowers also have a fresh, acidic taste. Bowel movements were also doctored using these leaves, making them regular and aiding patients during sudden, . Sourwood grows well in confined soil spaces with good drainage making it a candidate for urban plantings but is largely untried as a street tree. Can live 100200 years if planted in the right site. 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 Fruit: Showy Tolerate: Deer Steve Nix is a member of the Society of American Foresters and a former forest resources analyst for the state of Alabama. After filling the hole, press down the soil to remove air pockets and thoroughly water the ground. It grows to about 23 metres (75 feet) in height. Sourwoods are not drought-tolerant plants and require plenty of moisture during the growing seasons. Instead, you can collect the seeds from the brown seed capsules and start to germinate them in January. If you are thinking of planting sourwood trees, you'll want to learn more sourwood tree information. After its leaves drop in fall, scatter a fertilizer for acid-loving plants on the soil. 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. The university does not review, control or take responsibility for the contents of those sites. The best way to deal with canker diseases is to prune and destroy infected limbs. Twig borers lay eggs in the trees stems, and when the larvae hatch, they feed on new tissue growth inside the branches. Five-valved brownish dehiscent dry capsules , 1/3 to 1/2 inch long, that ripen to silver-gray in September and October. Heat tolerant. Come discover lush, green landscapes, and find respite and inspiration in the shade of towering trees. This tree can easily be identified by their lush dark green foliage which turns a striking fiery red in . It is tolerant of shade and dry soils and moderately tolerant of salt. (zones 5-9). Sourwood Honey is one of the most sought after honeys in the world. Sourwood honey is produced from honey bees extracting the nectar of the sourwood tree (Oxydendrum arboreum) and processing that nectar into honey. It is the only guaranteed way that I have found of beating . The bitter-tasting leaves are alternate, stalked, rather oblong, and 12-20 cm (5-8 inches) long. As far as diseases, twig blight kills leaves at the branch tips. I'm also open to suggestion regarding other native trees that can tolerate a little shade and won't get much larger than the sourwood at maturity. The common name derives from the sour taste of the leaves, which are finely toothed and glossy. Winter rains help the roots absorb the fertilizer and feed spring growth. It prefers full sun to part shade. 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. This native tree grows throughout the Eastern United States from Florida, Louisiana, and North Carolina north to Pennsylvania. Leaves from the sourwood tree are identified as lance-shaped with pointed tips and measure 3 to 6 (7.5 15 cm) long and up to 3 (7.5 cm) wide. Keep the fertilizer at least 1 foot away from a young trees trunk; expand the clear zone to 1 1/2 feet for an older sourwood. It makes an excellent specimen or focus of the center of a garden surrounded by native perennials. This article is a comprehensive guide to growing a sourwood landscape tree in your front or backyard. Root problems typify a number of the . The circle should extend beyond the drip line by one-half the distance between the trunk and the ends of the branches. After the danger of frost has passed in spring and the seedlings are at least 6 (15 cm) tall, place the seedling tray in a shaded area in your garden. Several fungal diseases can affect the growth of a sourwood tree. It makes an excellent specimen or understory tree or planted in small groups in a woodland garden. Happiest in cool-summer areas of U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 8b, sourwoods pair airily cascading clusters of bell-shaped, white spring-to-early-summer flowers with lustrous, deep-green foliage. (sourwood), leaves, fall color, Oxydendrum arboreum (L.) DC. Hardy in planting zones 4-9. This plant prefers acidic, peaty, moist, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. List of pests, diseases and tolerances: There aren't any serious insect or disease problems. Sourwood trees are co-sexual (both male and female parts within each flower) with very noticeable and unique flowering structures. You can find the sourwood from the coast of Virginia to North Carolina, over into Southern Ohio and Indiana, and down to Mississippi and Louisiana. Site design : Academic Web Pages. Second, the trees dont perform well in compact soil or cope with drought. Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum) grows in the upland forests of the southeastern United States. To ensure healthy growth, its vital to choose a fertilizer for acid-loving trees. Sourwood tree fruit persists on the tree until winter. Tea made out of sourwood plant leaves and flowers can cure various disease problems, including asthma, nausea, and fever. This plant does not like to be transplanted so only do so with young plants. With proper care, sourwoods can be ornamental overachievers. Its honey, which has a medium to light color with heavy body, is slow to granulate. . The brownish capsules measure up to 0.5 (1.2 cm) long and provide visual ornamental interest contrasting with the vibrantly colored red foliage. Fertilize sourwood by adding aged compost to the dripline at least once a year. Learn how The Morton Arboretum is ensuring the future of trees through leading-edge science and conservation. long and look a little like peach leaves. It is intolerant of pollution and urban areas. Then sprinkle the fine seeds over the soil, mist with water, and cover with plastic. Diseases Twig blight kills leaves at the branch tips. Fruits on sourwood trees are small oval, egg-shaped capsules with a yellowish or greenish color that mature to grayish-brown color. In addition, the leaves of the sourwood are said to have medicinal benefits, helping with: Fever reduction Dysentery Asthma Nausea Kidney and bladder problems Then make sure that the location is in full sun for best results. Sourwoods require a well-drained acid soil. Only 1 terminal bud, smaller than side buds. It has simple, alternate, 3 to 8 inch, elongated leaves with finely toothed edges. There are two issues to consider when using sourwood trees in the landscape. Caterpillar damage usually results in leaf loss. 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. Honey from the sourwood tree is known as North Carolina's most famous . Sourwood Honey comes from the nectar of the flower on the Sourwood Tree, which blooms in July/August of each year . Sycamore Diseases. It is native to North Carolina and can be found throughout the state, although more rarely in the low, alluvial plain. Grows to 25'-30', 20' spread. Young sourwood trees with green and red leaves. Sourwood usually grows as a pyramid or narrow oval with a more or less straight trunk at a height of 25 to 35 feet but can reach 50 to 60 feet tall with a spread of 25 to 30 feet. 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. Prepared by Mary P. Tucker for the Georgia Native Plant Society. Help trees thrive in the Chicago region and around the world. Fall webworm can defoliate portions of the tree in summer and fall but usually control is not needed. The simple leaves have a conspicuous midrib and fine feather-like veining. Leaves are rich green, turning yellow, red and purple in fall. In the wild, its bark often looks blocky like that of persimmon. 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. The main types of pests affecting a sourwood tree are borers, weevils, webworms, and caterpillars. Honey Jar Mock-Up - Male hands holding a honey jar on a gray. Dig a hole twice as wide as the tree's root ball, ease the tree from its nursery pot, untangle its roots and center it in the hole. This tree is planted in groves for honey production; sourwood honey is delicious. Sourwood trees can benefit from fertilization once a year in late fall. However, ensuring the sourwood tree gets plenty of sunlight and adequate water should make it resistant to most diseases. Honeybees pollinate the flowers and feed on the sweet nectar. One of the first trees to color in the fall it . Read our Commitment to Diversity | Read our Privacy Statement. Its slow growth rate is appealing as this allows the wood to become nice and strong while staying manageable and making care relatively easy, and the best news is there are no serious pest or disease problems. Cooperative Extension, which staffs local offices in all 100 counties and with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Dark, thin, gray bark on mature trees is has light gray fissures, ridged and scaly, becomes blocky with age. Two long-horned beetle species, twig girdlers (Oncideres cingulata) and dogwood stem borers (Oberea tripunctata) chew their way around sourwood's stems and deposit their eggs in the crevices. It gets its common name, Lily of the Valley Tree, because its flowers look similar to those of the Lily of the Valley plant. They are also a laxative. For an ornamental plant, the sourwood does not have huge levels of thirst. However, there seems to be agreement that the most difficult problems for sourwood arise because of its exacting cultural requirements as stated above. To plant a sourwood tree, dig a hole twice as wide as the trees root ball and the same depth. Origin: US native - Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee - grows along stream banks. Leaf spot and twig blight infrequently occur on the Sourwood tree. Sign up for our newsletter. 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. "With no major pests or diseases, this native . The leaves are used as a thirst-quencher by hikers and mountain climbers, and were once brewed to make a tonic. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! Copyright 2023, University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. It is at home in the eastern and southeastern United States in USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9. The Sourwood tree (Oxydendrum arboreum) is also known as the lily of the valley because of its beautiful flowers. Plant Clinic Manager. Sourwood Tree Seedlings produce white flowers during the Summer months. Their shape is reminiscent of lily-of-the-valley. RF 2K10YG3 - A Sourwood tree (Oxydendrum arboreum) and its very red leaves is fronted by . Trees in poor health seem to be more susceptible. Sourwood trees near structures? sourwood, sorrel tree, lily-of-the-valley tree. In mid-summer, small, white, urn-shaped flowers mature on panicles. The mid- to late-summer flowers are borne in terminal clusters of racemes which curve upward, creating a graceful effect at flowering time. Features simple, elliptic or oblong leaves that are dark green in color and range from 48" long. A type of brown beetle (Oncideres cingulata) feeds on new bark, killing twigs. We sell only container-grown plants in this species because of this limitation plus it reduces plant loss especially when planting orchards for honey production. 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. In addition, its attractive summer green and white colors and excellent fall colors create a focal point throughout the growing seasons. In the late Summer, drooping clusters of fragrant Lily-of-the-Valley-like white flowers add an . A million members, donors, and partners support our programs to make our world greener and healthier. Sourwood tree flowers are a creamy white color and bell-shaped. They have a sour taste, hence the common name. Alternate, simple, finely-toothed, glossy green leaves (3 to 6 inches long to 1 to 3 inches wide) entire to serrate margin shiny and glossy, reminiscent of a peach or laurel leaf. Sourwoods are not drought-tolerant plants and require plenty of moisture during the growing seasons. It has a few pest or disease problems such as webworm and twig blight, but is easily treated. Sourwood Tree Facts: Learn About The Care Of Sourwood Trees By Teo Spengler Sourwood trees offer delight in every season. It should take three to four weeks for germination to happen. The botanical equivalent of operatic divas, sourwood trees (Oxydendrum arboreum) compensate for their temperamental quirks with four-season performance. Features of Sourwood Tree A well developed Sourwood tree is capable of attaining a height, ranging from 25 feet to 30 feet (7.6 to 9.1 cm), with widespread branches that have a maximum spread of 20 feet (6 cm). When fully grown, these products can reach 30-60 feet and prefer well-drained soils. Is used by bees to produce highly prized honey. It does well with the protection of other tall shrubs and trees and does not tolerate drought or urban pollution. Sourwood trees are relatively small, slow-growing, and reach 20 to 30 ft. (6 10 m) tall and wide. Sourwood Tree Seedling gets its name from its sour-tasting leaves. This slowly spreading fungal infection can cause die-back where new growth doesnt appear or leaves wilt suddenly. Sourwood vector illustration. It was used as a tonic, decoction, and even as a gum; medicinal uses include treating urinary problems, prostrate conditions, diarrhea, dysentery, and many other symptoms. An Equal Opportunity University. 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 He describes himself as a "tree-hugging dirt worshipper" who is a member of multiple gardening societies and foundations. Julie Janoski. You can find them growing in oak-heath forests, near riverbanks, and along roadsides. Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum). Cooperative Extension prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy), disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, and veteran status. Prevent the problem with weekly watering during dry spells when its actively growing. 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.