Sourwood Tree Seedlings for Planting | 1-2 Feet Tall Live Tree Plants - Stunning Red Leaves and White Flowers (2 Trees) $42.96 $ 42. Sourwood trees are easy to identify in the fall due to their brilliant colors. The sourwood grows in acidic, loamy, moist, sandy, well-drained and clay soils. The tree does reasonably well in dry, neutral soils. The sourwood grows to a height of 2530' and a spread of around 20' at maturity. . Sourwood's shallow root system resents competition from nearby grass or plants. 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. Resistant to fire. They are dark green in color and have a sour, acidic taste. Her thousands of published articles cover topics from travel and gardening to pet care and technology. The Sourwood Tree has few disease or pest problems and it can be treated effortlessly for the ones it does come across. By fall, brilliant red foliage covers the branches. 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. Dead twigs and branches have sunken cankers. . Honey from the sourwood tree is known as North Carolina's most famous . Sourwood is not too site-demanding and has very few insect or disease problems, making it a low maintenance landscape plant. . Once the tree is established you can taper the supplemental watering off and let nature take over. 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. Plant the sourwood tree in full sun in a location that gets at least six hours of sunlight daily. Sourwood Honey ~ Pure, Raw, Delicious. In addition, its attractive summer green and white colors and excellent fall colors create a focal point throughout the growing seasons. Pests are usually not a problem for Sourwood. RM R8WEF4 - Sourwood tree, used by the Cherokee for arrow shafts, Qualla Reservation, North Carolina. However, there seems to be agreement that the most difficult problems for sourwood arise because of its exacting cultural requirements as stated above. I want to preserve a nice mature sourwood tree (Oxydendrum arboreum). Then sprinkle the fine seeds over the soil, mist with water, and cover with plastic. They are similar to lily of the valley flowers, providing an alternate common name. Trees in poor health seem to be more susceptible. While not incredibly high in nutrients, this organic material makes a great soil amendment that the sourwood thrives in naturally. 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. They can grow to 8 inches (20 cm.) Native geographic location and habitat: . The simple leaves have a conspicuous midrib and fine feather-like veining. Part of the issue is related to exacting cultural requirements. 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. Sourwood thrives in low-saline, acidic soil with a pH between 3.7 and 6.5 with consistent moisture and good drainage. 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. We offer 3 days to report any problems with your order. The sourwood spends most of its time in the understory of the forests, draped in the shade of huge canopy trees like oaks and maples. Full sun is the ideal condition for this tree, meaning it should get at least six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day. Sourwood tree can be identified by its large, glossy green lanceolate leaves that turn bright red to reddish-purple color in the fall. This slowly spreading fungal infection can cause die-back where new growth doesnt appear or leaves wilt suddenly. Possessing a light and exceptionally floral taste with notes of anise, spice, and gingerbread, sourwood honey is a premium product for most beekeepers. Twig blight kills leaves at the branch tips. Blooms are effective for 3 to 4 weeks. Water a sourwood tree often enough to prevent the ground from drying out. Sourwood tree facts tell you that the scientific name is Oxydendrum arboretum. Fall webworm can defoliate portions of the tree in summer and fall but usually control is not needed. The common name derives from the sour taste of the leaves, which are finely toothed and glossy. It makes an excellent specimen or understory tree or planted in small groups in a woodland garden. Honey made from the nectar of these flowers is highly prized for its color and flavor. The slender clusters of bell-like flowers measure 4 to 8 (10 20 cm) long. Locate the tree away from other plants, where its showy characteristics get the attention they deserve. Its honey, which has a medium to light color with heavy body, is slow to granulate. The tree transplants easily when young and from containers of any size. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. Dark, thin, gray bark on mature trees is has light gray fissures, ridged and scaly, becomes blocky with age. As far as diseases, twig blight kills leaves at the branch tips. The leaves are dark, lustrous green and appear to weep or hang from the twigs while branches droop toward the ground. The Sourwood Tree is a slow grower with an upright oval crown that is 25-30 feet high and 20 feet wide. The hairy capsules ripen in late fall and contain tiny seeds. Also, weevils (Conotrachelus anaglypticus) can damage new growth like buds, shoots, and leaves. Sourwood, also known as Lily of the Valley, is renowned by beekeepers for the high-quality honey that their pollen lends. Sourwood trees are relatively small, slow-growing, and reach 20 to 30 ft. (6 10 m) tall and wide. Only 1 terminal bud, smaller than side buds. Ideally, the planting location should be rich in organic content that holds enough moisture without becoming too soggy. (zones 5-9). Alternatively, you can cut the webs down and drop them in a bucket of soapy water to kill the caterpillars. Sourwood trees require minimal pruning when established. 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. Sourwood has no serious pest problems. The tree has laurel-like alternate leaves that are finely toothed and sour to the taste. Gray bark with reddish tinges helps to identify sourwood trees. 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. You can then dig your hole for planting a sourwood tree. Their shape is reminiscent of lily-of-the-valley. Silvery seed capsules continue well into winter, after the scarlet- and-orange autumn leaves drop. Terminal inflorescences resemble the elongated, bony fingers of a witch. I'm in the earliest stages of planning a house. The Arboretum has the expertise and advice to help you beautify your home landscape, improve your community, and advocate for trees. You may also appreciate sourwood tree information about the flowers, which are attractive to bees. The sourwood is the only species in the genus Oxydendrum. Excellent fall color. Green leaves in the summer in Moore County. If you are thinking of planting sourwood trees, youll want to learn more sourwood tree information. It is intolerant of pollution and urban areas. Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum). It is perhaps most commonly found on rocky wooded slopes in the Appalachian Mountains, often growing in combination with other heath family members that share the same acidic soil preferences. View Map. The best way to prevent leaf spot is to avoid overwatering a sourwood tree and ensure it gets plenty of sunlight. To ensure healthy growth, its vital to choose a fertilizer for acid-loving trees. For an ornamental plant, the sourwood does not have huge levels of thirst. Sourwood is a tree for all seasons, rewarding you with year-round beauty, according to native plant enthusiast Helen Hamilton of Williamsburg. Although they will tolerate partial shade, youll get less flowers and the fall color will not be as bright. It does well with the protection of other tall shrubs and trees and does not tolerate drought or urban pollution. Sourwood products were used to treat urinary problems (increase urine flow / diuretic), enlarged prostate, bowel . N.C. You might see the trees blooming in various regions also. This native tree grows throughout the Eastern United States from Florida, Louisiana, and North Carolina north to Pennsylvania. These flowers also provide the nectar for bees and the very tasty and sought out sourwood honey. Features simple, elliptic or oblong leaves that are dark green in color and range from 48" long. Size: City trees are usually about 25-30' at maturity. Old fall webworm tents attract invertebrates that birds often eat during late fall and winter. Fragrant white blooms in July in elongated clusters. Sourwood is important as a source of honey in some areas and sourwood honey is marketed locally. This virtually eliminates damping off as a problem. Those panicles age into sweeping sprays of 1/3-inch oval, greenish-brown seed capsules which turn a silvery gray by . Sourwood requires an acidic soil that is moist and well-drained. Choose the sunniest part of your garden and ensure that the soil is loamy and well-draining. Click this article to learn about the planting and care of sourwood trees. First, the trees dont tolerate urban pollution and wont thrive in city environments. The sourwood grows in acidic, loamy, moist, sandy, well-drained and clay soils. Choose a location with well-draining, slightly acidic soil to plant a sourwood tree. Leaf spot and twig blight infrequently occur on the Sourwood tree. Full Sun or Shade for a Crimson Queen Maple. This tree will not tolerate dry, compacted, alkaline soils or deicing salt, and is sensitive to root disturbance, so it is not ideal for urban areas. Water them during dry weather, even after they mature, since they are intolerant of drought. This plant does not like to be transplanted so only do so with young plants. Its vital to prune a sourwood tree when its young to help develop an attractive shape. 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 circle should extend beyond the drip line by one-half the distance between the trunk and the ends of the branches. On first-year shoots, the bark is often bright red. They are also a laxative. Buds are lateral or axillary, small (less than an inch in size), are conical-globose, and sessile. Sourwood Trees have a reputation of being very difficult to grow in domestication. Site design : Academic Web Pages. Fall webworm can defoliate portions of the tree in summer and fall but usually control is not needed. We offer 3 days to report any problems with your order. (sourwood), bark. A sourwood tree's leaves can be chewed to help quench thirst, made into tea, or added to salads, soups, or stews. Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum) is a small deciduous tree in the heath family Ericaceae. Deep water by letting a hose or sprinkler trickle water around the base of the tree for several hours. However, it can do significant damage to your trees leaves. 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. This specimen is located at a residence My Purple Plum Tree Looks Black Like Fungus: What Is This? The bark develops deep furrows and scaly patterns like the alligator hide-type bark of black tupelo trees. Sourwood's wood is hard and has red-tinged brown heartwood and thick layers of pale sapwood. This tree has a rounded top and branches that droop, making it appear graceful. It actually is because of the leaves, which are edible and leave a very sour taste in your mouth. Then by summer, the tree is in bloom with rows of beautiful urn-shaped flowers. Sign up for our newsletter. Another name for the sourwood tree is the lily of the valley treethis is because the bell-shaped flowers look like those of lily of the valley plant (Convallaria majalis). Flowers are fragrant and bloom poorly in the 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. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. Depending on the fungal infection, cankers can form on the twigs or branches, or leaf spots can appear on the foliage. 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 This plant does not like to be transplanted so only do so with young plants. Sourwoods require a well-drained acid soil. 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. Bark is gray-brown and deeply ridged with the ridges often divided into a somewhat square pattern. Leaf spots can discolor some leaves but are not serious other than causing premature defoliation. The amazing honey from sourwood blossoms has a spicy aroma, sweet caramel taste, and pleasant aftertaste. A young sourwood tree may begin to flower when it is only 3 to 4 feet tall. The problem is we're rarely given a choice, as most nurseries . The dark, thick, furrowed bark is a major winter asset. Fertilizing before maturity will create more work for you and weaker wood on the branches. The sourwood tree is an ornamental deciduous small tree famous for its white flowers, lanceolate leaves, gray-brown patterned bark, and red fall leaves. A million members, donors, and partners support our programs to make our world greener and healthier. Heat tolerant. This type of natural fertilizer helps increase the soils acidic content, which is what sourwood trees prefer. This tree is especially common in Southeastern US. Sourwood honey also has antibacterial properties. Help trees thrive in the Chicago region and around the world. They are low maintenance, adaptable, have no serious pest problems, is sun or shade tolerant and drought resistant once established. It is native primarily to the southeastern United States and commonly found on well-drained upland slopes. Bees produce a rich and popular honey from the nectar. Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day), Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight), Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours).