White blooms, lanceolate leaves, gray-brown patterned bark, and red autumn leaves are all characteristics of the sourwood tree, which is an attractive small deciduous tree. The lovely white flower clusters (panicles) of a sourwood tree, as well as its gorgeous crimson-red to reddish-purple color in the autumn, and lovely red-brown bark, are some of its appealing characteristics. In residential garden landscapes, sourwood is a lovely decorative tree that can be grown in full sun to partial shade.
This article will show you how to grow a sourwood tree in your front or backyard. It is a comprehensive guide. You can identify where to place this gorgeous specimen tree by consulting descriptions and images of sourwood flowers, leaves, and fruit.
Sourwood Tree (Oxydendrum Arboreum) Facts
In the autumn, the sourwood tree (Oxydendrum arboreum) has red leaves. The heath family Ericaceae includes the little deciduous tree Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum). From Florida through Louisiana and North Carolina through Pennsylvania, this indigenous tree may be found throughout the Eastern United States. It isn’t particularly salt tolerant, but it falters in drought or polluted settings.
Sourwood trees grow to be 20 to 30 feet (6 to 10 meters) tall and broad, and they are rather tiny. A slender stem, small, irregular crown, and branches that sag just a little characterize this tree’s typical growth characteristics. The tree also produces little urn-shaped blooms that mimic lily-of-the-valley blooms. It has a magnificent deep red color when it falls.
With the correct care and attention, a sourwood tree may survive for 75 to 100 years. The sourwood tree is also known as the sorrel tree because it is the only species in the Oxydendrum genus. Furthermore, except for the United States, the natural tree does not grow in other countries.
The bitter yet edible leaves of the sourwood tree gave it its name. Acidity is the botanical term for a tree. When cooked, the leaves give stews a tangy, acidic taste. Similarly, the bitter, acidic flavor of edible white sourwood blooms. Bees are also drawn to the flowers by their lovely fragrance.
The lily of the valley tree is another name for the sourwood tree, since its bell-shaped blossoms resemble those of a lily of the valley plant (Convallaria majalis). The uncommon and very tasty honey is one of the most well-known products from the sourwood tree. The sweet buttery caramel flavor of gourmet honey is balanced with a somewhat peppery flavor. Cinnamon and cloves are present in the amber-colored sourwood honey. Sourwood is known as the honey tree because of its famed honey.
Sourwood Tree Leaves
Lance-shaped with pointed tips, 3″ to 6″ (7.5 – 15 cm) long and up to 3″ (7.5 cm) wide, sourwood tree leaves are recognized as lance-shaped leaves with pointed tips. With finely serrated borders, sourwood leaves resemble laurel leaves. The midrib of the simple leaves is obvious, and there are feather-like veining. The tree’s stems are covered with bitter-tasting leaves with short petioles. Sourwood leaves are said to have a flavor reminiscent of sour apples.
During the fall, the bright colors of sourwood trees stand out. Sourwood leaves turn brilliant Reds ranging from crimson red to burgundy and purple in the fall, resulting in beautiful colors. In comparison to other deciduous landscape trees that may be golden yellow or coppery-bronze, the bright red colors stand out.
In the fall, sourwood tree leaves
Sourwood Tree Bark
The reddish tinges on sourwood tree bark help to identify them. Like the alligator hide-type bark of black tupelo trees, the bark develops deep furrows and scaly patterns. Twigs and branches of the sourwood tree bark turn bright red before turning gray, which is an interesting feature.
Sourwood Tree Flowers
Panicles of creamy-white, urn-shaped flowers bloom on one side of the stems and bloom in June and July on sourwood tree blossoms. The bell-shaped blooms are 4″ to 8″ (10 – 20 cm) long, and they form slender clusters. Five little petals are combined to form a small bell in each scented blossom. When in full bloom in the summer, the sourwood tree has a velvety look with its numerous fragrant blossoms.
The urn-shaped blooms dangle downward from the flower panicles, which are long and slender. Honey can also be derived from the nectar-rich blossoms. Honeybees eat the delicious nectar and pollinate the flowers. The pungent aroma, sweet caramel flavor, and pleasant aftertaste of sourwood honey are all amazing.
Sourwood Tree Fruit
Sourwood tree immature (left) and fullgrown (right) fruits are little oval, egg-shaped capsules with a yellowish or greenish color. They turn grayish-brown as they mature. In late autumn, the hairy capsules ripen and release tiny seeds. The rows of brown fruit standing upright on curving branches are visible in the fall when you’re looking for sourwood trees.
During the winter, sourwood tree fruit remains on the tree. In contrast to the brilliantly colored crimson leaves, the brownish capsules are up to 0.5″ (1.2 cm) long and provide visual aesthetic value.
Sourwood Tree Identification
The flowers, leaves, and bark of the Sourwood tree are all clues. The huge, glossy green lanceolate leaves of the sourwood tree turn bright red to reddish-purple in the fall and may be identified. Long panicles of fragrant white bell-shaped blooms during the summer help to distinguish the tree. The patterned furrows of sourwood tree bark have a look like alligator skin.
Sourwood Tree Landscape Uses
Native sourwood trees are lovely decorative trees with green and crimson foliage that offer seasonal interest. The branches have a somewhat weeping or drooping habit, and the dense, glossy green foliage appears in spring. The tree blooms with rows of lovely urn-shaped blossoms by the summertime. The branches have brilliant red foliage by the fall.
As a multi-season attraction, small sourwood trees are commonly planted as specimen trees. Lawns, shade gardens, and patios are ideal for trees with weeping branches and an uneven pyramidal crown. Moreover, throughout the growing seasons, it has a focal point thanks to its appealing summer green and white colors and fantastic fall colors.
Sourwoods are excellent understory trees because they grow well in partial shade. Moreover, their stature makes them an interesting sight at eye level, and they can be a beautiful addition to your garden.
When utilizing sourwood trees in the garden, there are two factors to take into account. First and foremost, trees don’t grow in cities because they can’t stand urban pollution. Second, trees struggle in tight soil and are susceptible to drought.
Where to Plant Sourwood Tree
In a position that receives at least six hours of sunlight every day, plant the sourwood tree in full sun. To plant a sourwood tree, choose a site with reasonably moist, mildly acidic soil. The soil should be rich in organic matter and retain enough moisture without becoming soggy, ideally.
In USDA zones 5 through 9, sourwood trees are hardy. You may grow landscape trees in Florida, Texas, and the Carolinas as far north as Iowa, Illinois, and New York State if you take care of them.
How to Plant Sourwood Tree
Dig a hole twice as wide and as deep as the tree’s root ball to plant a sourwood tree. Untangle the roots of the rooted nursery plant by removing it from the container. Make sure the young tree grows at the same height as it did previously by placing it in the center.
Lastly, using the corrected native soil, backfill the hole. Press down the earth to eliminate air pockets and thoroughly wet the earth after filling in the hole. Lastly, to help keep the soil moist and weeds under control, add a 2″ to 3″ (5 – 7.5 cm) layer of organic mulch.
The soil should be organically rich, acidic, and drain well when you’re planting a sourwood tree. Next, check to see if the site gets enough sunlight for optimum performance. After that, you can start digging for your sourwood tree. To increase acidity and improve drainage, you can add sand or gravel to the soil by amended with compost.
Sourwood Tree (Oxydendrum arboreum) Care Guide
Well-drained organically rich acidic soil and full sun are required for the best results when caring for an sourwood tree. In late fall, boost the soil’s nutrient content by providing additional fertilizer. Then, in early spring, it’s critical to trim the sourwood tree down so that it grows larger and retains its form. Let’s discuss how to care for a sourwood tree in further depth.
How to Water Sourwood Tree
To keep the earth from drying out, water a sourwood tree frequently. During the growing seasons, sourwoods need a lot of water since they are not drought-tolerant. Irrigating the roots thoroughly is the best way to water the tree. Apply a trickle of water over many hours.
Sourwood Tree Fertilization
Once a year, in late fall, fertilizer can be used on sourwood trees. It’s important to use an acid-loving tree fertilizer to ensure proper development. A tree fertilizer with a 10-10-10 NPK rating is also available. Moreover, since ammonium nitrate fertilizer burns the roots, use nitrate-based fertilizer instead.
In addition, every spring, apply rotting manure or organic compost to ensure that a Sourwood tree obtains enough nutrients. Sourwood trees prefer acidic soils, so this type of natural fertilizer helps raise the soil’s acidic content.
Pruning Sourwood Tree
When grown, sourwood trees just need a little trimming. In the early spring, you should remove dead or dying branches. Also, any suckers or branches that grow near the trunk’s base should be removed. When the trees are young, the majority of the critical sourwood pruning takes place.
When a sourwood tree is young, it’s important to trim it down so that it develops into a stunning form. Trimming off weak-looking branches and leaving five to eight evenly spaced branches would be ideal. Also, keep a 5-foot (1.5-meter) clearance beneath the canopy by removing limbs from the tree.
How to Propagate Sourwood Tree
Collecting seeds is the best way to grow sourwood trees, although germination rates are low even after several years. According to reports, propagating a sourwood using stem cuttings is difficult. Instead, in January, you can collect the brown seed capsules’ seeds and begin to grow them.
A seedling tray containing a moist potting medium is required to grow a sourwood tree from seed. Equal parts of perlite and peat moss, for example, are ideal. Then cover with plastic and sprinkle the fine seeds over the soil. Spray them with water.
For the next 24 hours, keep the seedling tray in a warm area with a fluorescent light. Germination should take three to four weeks. Every two weeks after the seedlings have arisen, give them a weak acidic fertilizer. Just keep the strongest seedlings and throw away the rest after they’ve grown two leaves.
Position the seedling tray in a shaded area in your garden when the danger of frost has passed in spring and the seedlings are at least 6 inches (15 cm) tall. The seedlings may be put into the soil after two weeks. Make sure the soil is loamy and well-draining in the brightest area of your garden.
Pests Affecting Sourwood Tree Growth
Borers, weevils, webworms, and caterpillars are the main types of pests that affect sourwood trees. New twigs may die away or leaves may twist downward when plant damage by borers like dogwood twig borers or azalea stem borers occurs. Leaf loss is a common symptom of caterpillar damage. The larvae feed on new tissue growth inside the branches when they hatch from Twig borers laying eggs in the tree’s stems. Unfortunately, poor growth is caused by the feeding habit of new sprouts and stems dying back.
New bark is eaten by a kind of brown beetle (Oncideres cingulata), which kills twigs. New growth, such as buds, shoots, and leaves, can also be damaged by weevils (Conotrachelus anaglypticus). Tree defoliation can be caused by webworm and caterpillar activity.
Webworms emerge from their web nests on the tips of branches to feed on fresh leaves. In late spring, hickory horned devil caterpillars may also attack sourwood leaves. Removing beavers from a sourwood tree might be difficult. When dealing with a pest issue, usually calling in experts is the best choice.
You may cut the webbing open to expose the larvae to birds that feed on them in order to get rid of webworms. You can also use a knife to chop down the caterpillars’ webs and toss them into a tub of soap solution. The hickory horned devil caterpillar is a huge green caterpillar that appears fearsome but is actually pleasant. It will not bite you.
It can, however, irreversibly harm the leaves of your tree. Handpicking and killing caterpillars in soapy water is the best way to get rid of them.
Diseases Affecting Sourwood Tree Growth
A sourwood tree may be afflicted by a variety of fungal illnesses. Cankers on the twigs or branches, as well as leaf spots on the leaves, might occur if a fungal infection develops. Nonetheless, most diseases should be resistant to the sourwood tree if it gets enough sunlight and water.
A symptom of nectria canker (Nectria galligena) is tiny, creamy white or red spots on branches. Die-back occurs when new growth does not appear or leaves wilt abruptly due to this slowly spreading fungal infection. Canker diseases may be dealt with effectively by pruning and amputating diseased limbs.
Leaf spot fungal infection may be caused by excessive cool air, humidity, and soil moisture. Brown patches on foliage that spread quickly to the entire leaf are a symptom of foliar diseases. Avoiding overwatering and giving your sourwood tree enough sunlight are the best strategies to avoid leaf spot.