Grow sourwood trees in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 9. Provide the trees with generous irrigation all growing season when they are young. The tree grows slowly and only needs minor pruning attention. Common: Sourwood Tree, Lily-of-the-Valley Tree or Sorrel Tree. Sourwood is a deciduous narrow tree with rounded top and drooping branches. For graduate student information, contact Dr. Doug Archbold at 859-257-3352, or darchbol@uky.edu, Sourwood - Oxydendrum arboreumHeath Family (Ericaceae). 04-28-2015, 07:18 PM #5 GaryG74 Sourwood tree growth is fairly rapid. They kind of look like Christmas trees now. Leaf spot and twig blight infrequently occur on the Sourwood tree. Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum) grows in the upland forests of the southeastern United States.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. It is best transplanted in spring, and kept well-watered and mulched until established. You may also appreciate sourwood tree information about the flowers, which are attractive to bees. It's profoundly furrowed and scaly in texture. Copyright 2020, University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. To take care of sourwood trees, don’t stint on water. Sourwood tree facts tell you that the scientific name is Oxydendrum arboretum. 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. In its native habitat Sourwood can grow up to 60' x 100'. I thought about getting some sourwood trees but have heard they only produce nectar at very specific altitudes and under very specific conditions. Blossoms bloom on sender panicles and have a faint fragrance. Ericaceae -- Heath family. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. Prevent the problem with weekly watering during dry spells when it’s actively growing. The scientific name for sourwood comes from the Greek words oxys (acid) and dendron (tree) and refers to the sour taste of its leaves. Sourwood tree growth is fairly rapid. Trees are slow growing and sensitive to air pollution, poor drainage, root disturbance, and soil compaction. " In the late Summer, drooping clusters of fragrant Lily-of-the-Valley-like white flowers add an interesting and unique look to the Sourwood Tree. Read on to learn about the planting and care of sourwood trees. Trees typically grow up to about 30 feet in height and 20 feet in spread. For general undergraduate student information, contact Dr. Rick Durham at (859) 257-3249, or rdurham@uky.edu. This plant does not like to be transplanted so only do so with young plants. Here is more on this. Irrigation is required during hot, dry weather to keep leaves on the tree. If you are thinking of planting sourwood trees, you’ll want to learn more sourwood tree information. The flowers are white and appear on the branches in summer. Sourwood Tree Seedlings typically grows at a rate of twelve to twenty-four inches a year. I think they would look better trimmed. This tree requires an acid soil and thus can be difficult to grow in northern Illinois. The largest known sourwood in North America is in Robbinsville, N.C. Here is a quote about sourwood: "Trees grow best in moist, well-drained acidic soils in full sun to light shade. Click this article to learn about the planting and care of sourwood trees. The trees typically grow 25 feet (7.6 m.) tall in your backyard, but can shoot up to 60 feet (18 m.) tall in the wild. They are fairly low maintenance trees with only fall webworms becoming a problem. Sourwood thrive along road cuts, often sprouting from stumps left behind. Sourwood trees offer delight in every season. 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. Water them during dry weather, even after they mature, since they are intolerant of drought. Site design : Academic Web Pages. The wood is also red-brown, with lighter sapwood. 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. I have two Sourwood trees growing. Below is a list of some common pests you may be facing along with links for more detailed information. A young sourwood tree may begin to flower when it is only 3 to 4 feet tall. Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: Fall webworm is an occasional problem. Small branches are mild yellow-green at first but change to a red-brown when the tree matures. They hang on the tree after leaf drop and lend ornamental winter interest. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! Origin: US native - Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee – grows along stream banks. Sourwood has no serious pest problems. Sourwood Tree, Oxydendrum arboretum By Gretchen Spencer, Fairfax Master Gardener I saw my first sourwood tree about two years ago when a neighbor landscaped the corner of her property. Sourwood products were used to treat urinary problems (increase urine flow / diuretic), enlarged prostrate, bowel troubles, diarrhea, dysentery, stomach ache, and fever. Oxydendrum arboreum (L.) DC.. Sourwood. 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 … It is 118 feet tall with a 2-foot trunk. If so when should I prune the lower branches. Sourwood can be grown in Zones 5 (perhaps 4) to 9. U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness, Different Types Of Sorrel – Learn About Common Sorrel Varieties, Using Sorrel Herbs – How To Prepare Sorrel Plants, Sorrel Plant Uses – Tips On Using Sorrel Herbs In Cooking, Wintercreeper Control – How To Get Rid Of Wintercreeper Plants, Getting Rid Of Chinese Privet: How To Kill Chinese Privet Shrubs, Upright Boxwood Plants – Growing Fastigiata Boxwood Bushes, 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, Spruce Trees For Landscaping - Spruce It Up With Evergreens, Western Juniper Trees: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly, Evergreens For Winter Interest: Growing Holly In Gardens, Christmas Tree Alternative: Decorating An Outdoor Tree For Birds. In time, the flowers produce dry seed capsules that ripen in autumn. The centerpiece was a young tree with long, pendulous seed capsules hanging delicately from its branches. The leaves are used as a thirst-quencher by hikers and mountain climbers, and were once brewed to make a tonic. It has a few pest or disease problems such as webworm and twig blight, but is easily treated. Since your tree is a foundation planting, you might want to have your soil tested by your local Penn State Extension. 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 … The trunk of a sourwood tree is straight and slender, the bark fissured and gray, and the crown narrow. Send mail to cgcass0@uky.edu with questions about this site. Plant the trees in full sun. Leaf spot diseases should be taken seriously if they result in moderate to complete leaf loss two to four years in a row. Although they will tolerate partial shade, you’ll get less flowers and the fall color will not be as bright. If left on their own, sourwood can develop poor architecture and become aesthetically less pleasing. However pruning the tree properly when it is young will ensure it develops good form and structure. Sourwood flowers are very attractive to bees, and sourwood honey is common in the South. “Sourwood” isn’t exactly a household name, but if more people knew about this exquisite ornamental tree’s charms, it would be as warmly embraced as Flowering Dogwoods and Japanese Maples. The trees typically grow 25 feet tall in your backyard, but can shoot up to 60 feet tall in the wild. If you are thinking of planting sourwood trees, you'll want to learn more sourwood tree information. Sourwood or the sorrel tree is a beautiful tree with glossy foliage that soothes the eye and delivers a feel of eminent tranquility. Size: City trees are usually about 25-30' at maturity. Some decorative coasters have also been created using sourwood trees. Oxydendrum arboretum, Sourwood Tree By: Ginny Rosenkranz, University of Maryland Extension. Planting sourwood next to black gum (Nyssa sylvatica) makes for a great fall color combination. Sourwood typically develops into a broadly conical tree with branches that droop toward their tips, giving it a graceful appearance. Lumber is used for tool handles and was once used to make wagon sled runners. Sourwood Tree Seedlings is not affected by any significant diseases or pests. It’s interesting to read up on sourwood tree facts. Sourwood Trees have a reputation of being very difficult to grow in domestication. Sourwood's wood is hard and has red-tinged brown heartwood and thick layers of pale sapwood. Sourwood is an attractive tree with white flowers in early summer and excellent fall color. If you are planting sourwood trees, you’ll do best to grow them in well-draining, slightly acidic soil. Older trees will display blocky bark that add interest to a winter landscape. Family. 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. I am in RI and above their natural habitat but they are doing great except for the base of the tree being full. The sourwood tree can be grown in partial shade or full sun and is also free of pests! Culture: Sun to part shade. Sourwood has no serious pest problems. For undergraduate student information regarding the Sustainable Agriculture program, contact Dr. Krista Jacobsen at (859) 257-3921, or krista.jacobsen@uky.edu. The Sourwood Tree is a slow grower with an upright oval crown that is 25-30 feet high and 20 feet wide. Ronald P. Overton. The trunk of a sourwood tree is straight and slender, the bark fissured and gray, and the crown narrow. Like many other native trees, the Sourwood tree can be found growing in acidic soil, on wooded and rocky slopes. 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