Prune out infected branch tips and fertilize. 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. Sourwood tree facts tell you that the scientific name is Oxydendrum arboretum. This virtually eliminates damping off as a problem. Sourwood tree can be identified by its large, glossy green lanceolate leaves that turn bright red to reddish-purple color in the fall. Native geographic location and habitat: . 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. Unlike most ornamental trees, the sourwood does not have many cultivars. Native sourwood trees are beautiful ornamental trees that provide visual interest in all seasons. 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. They are similar to lily of the valley flowers, providing an alternate common name. This plant prefers acidic, peaty, moist, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. 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 Blooms from June to early July, with fragrant white flowers on drooping stalks that look very similar to lilies-of-the-valley. 2023 Gardening Know How, Future US LLC, Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036. It helps to amend the soil with compost to increase acidity and add sand or gravel to improve drainage. By fall, brilliant red foliage covers the branches. They hang on the tree after leaf drop and lend ornamental winter interest. There are many interesting facts regarding the sourwood tree. RF 2K10YG3 - A Sourwood tree (Oxydendrum arboreum) and its very red leaves is fronted by . As far as diseases, twig blight kills leaves at the branch tips. Sourwood tree fruit: immature (left) and mature (right). It is best grown from small container-grown plants. Honey made by bees from its flowers is highly prized and . Then remove the rooted nursery plant from the container and untangle the roots. Gourmet honey is produced by the many bees that are attracted to the nectar-laden flowers. 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 Tree. Shop products from small business brands sold in Amazon's store. Help trees thrive in the Chicago region and around the world. Cooperative Extension, which staffs local offices in all 100 counties and with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The sweet nectar and sap of the sourwood led to early colonists and Native Americans utilizing it for a variety of things. Techniques have been described for sourwood seed collection, storage, and germination (2,5,14). Sourwood Tree (Oxydendrum arboreum) - 7 Gallon Pot Truly a tree with 4-season appeal, the Sourwood has lovely, lily-of-the-valley-like flowers and long-lasting fall foliage color that rivals the best of the hybrid red maples. The sourwood is the only species in the genus Oxydendrum. 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. Below are common attributes associated to Sourwood Tree. Can live 100200 years if planted in the right site. The trees with their weeping branches and irregular pyramidal crown are ideal for lawns, shade gardens, or patios. . Called Lily-of-the-Valley and Sorreltree also. The flowers of the sourwood tree are white and blooming occurs in late spring or early summer. To take care of sourwood trees, dont stint on water. The flowers droop from the stem and have a pleasant, sweet fragrance. Its fall color is a spectacular deep red. 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. 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. RM R8WEF4 - Sourwood tree, used by the Cherokee for arrow shafts, Qualla Reservation, North Carolina. A fountain of flowers cascading from the treetops is the best description of the native Sourwood Tree, Oxydendrum arboreum. Sourwood has no serious pests or diseases. To propagate a sourwood tree from seed, you need a seedling tray filled with a moist potting medium. Let your sourwood establish for a year before fertilizing. He is an arboretum curator with over 30 years of experience. Shape the young tree to establish a single, strong trunk with five to eight evenly spaced branches beginning 5 feet from the ground. Occasionally young specimens have a more open spreading habit reminiscent of Redbud. last year. Full sun to partial shade. Pests are usually not a problem for Sourwood. The amazing honey from sourwood blossoms has a spicy aroma, sweet caramel taste, and pleasant aftertaste. Spread the fertilizer in a circle, beginning at the outer two-thirds of the branch spread. However, it can do significant damage to your trees leaves. If you are thinking of planting sourwood trees, youll want to learn more sourwood tree information. Honeybees pollinate the flowers and feed on the sweet nectar. You can also use a tree fertilizer with an NPK rating of 10-10-10. In addition, the leaves of the sourwood are said to have medicinal benefits, helping with: Fever reduction Dysentery Asthma Nausea Kidney and bladder problems Once the tree is established you can taper the supplemental watering off and let nature take over. Being a tree which is native to Georgia they are adapted to our soil and want to live here. long and look a little like peach leaves. Also known as sorrel-tree or lily-of-the-valley-tree, its flowers are an important source of honey in some areas but it is of little value as a timber species. 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 requires an acidic soil that is moist and well-drained. It has simple, alternate, 3 to 8 inch, elongated leaves with finely toothed edges. Sourwood Tree Seedlings produce white flowers during the Summer months. Sourwood Tree Seedling gets its name from its sour-tasting leaves. Then sprinkle the fine seeds over the soil, mist with water, and cover with plastic. Green leaves in the summer in Moore County. 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. Pennsylvania to Florida, west to Louisiana and Ohio. 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. A very ornamental plant, it will flower in 4 to 5 years after planting from seed. For general undergraduate student information, contact Dr. Rick Durham at (859) 257-3249, or rdurham@uky.edu. Sourwood's bark is grayish brown tinged with red, and deeply furrowed with scaly ridges. The Sourwood tree (Oxydendrum arboreum) is also known as the lily of the valley because of its beautiful flowers. This specimen is located at a residence Another reason why the sourwood is so valuable as an ornamental tree in the landscape is because it does get seriously damaged by any insects or diseases that take up residence. Again, its native habit will inform you greatly to its preferred environment. The ideal soil is moist and rich in organic content. Read our Commitment to Diversity | Read our Privacy Statement. Sourwood is important as a source of honey in some areas and sourwood honey is marketed locally. With proper care, sourwoods can be ornamental overachievers. The growth rate is 2-3 feet each year. 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. Grows to 25'-30', 20' spread. It is native to North Carolina and can be found throughout the state, although more rarely in the low, alluvial plain. . Sourwood has no serious pest problems. Leaves are dark, lustrous green and appear to weep or hang from the twigs. Provide the trees with generous irrigation all growing season when they are young. 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. Then its vital to prune the sourwood tree in early spring to encourage new growth and maintain its shape. The abundant fragrant flowers give the sourwood tree a soft textured appearance when blooming in midsummer. However, according to the Virginia Cooperative Extension at Virginia Tech, the sourwood tree can be difficult to start in your garden: "Despite its grace and beauty, sourwood trees are. 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. The hickory horned devil caterpillar is a huge green caterpillar that looks aggressive but is harmless and wont bite you. 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. Yields an oval-shaped fruit that is under " in diameter. Gardening For Bees In Nebraska And West North Central Region, Ornamental Grasses Ohio Valley Gardeners Should Grow, 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 tree bark has recognizable deep furrows with patterns resembling alligator hide. Instead, you can collect the seeds from the brown seed capsules and start to germinate them in January. 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. Sourwood is a pyramidal to oval tree that grows 25 to 30 feet high and 20 to 25 feet wide. Grow sourwood trees in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 9. The dense, glossy green foliage appears in spring, and the branches have a somewhat weeping or drooping habit. This tree grows to be 25-30 feet in height and has a spread of about 20 feet at full maturity. 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. Digital photograph. When planting a sourwood tree, ensure that the soil is organically rich, acidic, and drains well. The hairy capsules ripen in late fall and contain tiny seeds. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. Full sun (6 hrs direct light daily), Partial sun / shade (4-6 hrs light daily), Zone 5 (Northern Illinois), Zone 6 (City of Chicago), Zone 7, Zone 8, early summer, midsummer, early fall, mid fall, Oxydendrum arboreum (L.) DC. Sourwoods are notorious for bad transplanting, so it's vital that you adequately water the newly planted tree. In addition, their relatively short stature provides plenty of interest at eye level and can be a great addition to your landscape. Order Your Sourwood Tree From TN Nursery Today Even the straight species is difficult to find in the trade without looking for the plant in a specialty store. form a strategic partnership called N.C. Capsules contrast well with the red fall color and provide continuing ornamental interest after leaf drop into winter. When fully grown, these products can reach 30-60 feet and prefer well-drained soils. Sourwood tree flowers are a creamy white color and bell-shaped. Stems are slender, glabrous or sparingly pubescent, and do not go dormant in the winter. Join in The Morton Arboretum's mission to plant and protect trees for a greener, healthier, and more beautiful world. It produces small, persistent, tan, dry capsules. The best way to deal with canker diseases is to prune and destroy infected limbs. Small creamy white or red lesions on branches could be a sign of nectria canker (Nectria galligena). Those panicles age into sweeping sprays of 1/3-inch oval, greenish-brown seed capsules which turn a silvery gray by . Pioneers used the sap as one ingredient in a concoction used for treating fevers; the bark for chewing to soothe mouth pains; and leaf tea for treating diarrhea, indigestion and dysentery. Learn how The Morton Arboretum is ensuring the future of trees through leading-edge science and conservation. The Sourwood Tree is a tree that grows in the Appalachian Mountains of North Georgia, North Carolina, and parts of Tennessee. 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. After the seedlings have developed two leaves, keep only the strongest ones and discard the rest. It wont perform well where other rapidly growing trees block the sun it loves. It is not snobby like some ornamentals which require fussing and tending. If you are thinking of planting sourwood trees, you'll want to learn more sourwood tree information. The trees that make most nectars grow in north Georgia and western North Carolina. It is the ideal ornamental tree when it reaches maturity when it can bloom after about its fifth season. That being said, here are a few of the rare cultivars to have actually made it into cultivation in the trade: Pruning the sourwood is a pure joy as it is very slow-growing, and the only worries you should have are pruning the tree for structure and establishing a single leader. The Arboretum offers something for everyone in an unforgettable, tree-filled setting. Flowers are quite attractive to bees and the honey is highly sought after. 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). They are also a laxative. The sourwood can be expected to grow in Hardiness Zones 59. In the late Summer, drooping clusters of fragrant Lily-of-the-Valley-like white flowers add an . 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. However, there seems to be agreement that the most difficult problems for sourwood arise because of its exacting cultural requirements as stated above. (sourwood), bark. The fall color of sourwood is a striking red and orange and associated with blackgum and sassafras. The leaves are dark green in summer and change to red or a mix of red and orange in fall. Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: Fall webworm is an occasional problem. 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. Wood is heavy, hard, and closegrained, but is seldom used as a commercial wood. Sourwood Honey comes from the Sourwood tree (Oxydendrum arboreum) a member of the Ericaceae family, also called the Sour gum, Sorrel tree or Lily-of-the-Valley tree.This showy, USA native tree is the lone species of its genera.