Julie Janoski. This means that with the proper care, you can grow the landscape trees in states like Florida, Texas, and the Carolinas and as far north as Iowa, Illinois, and New York State. Being a tree which is native to Georgia they are adapted to our soil and want to live here. This slowly spreading fungal infection can cause die-back where new growth doesnt appear or leaves wilt suddenly. 6,649 views. Sourwood trees require minimal pruning when established. Wood is heavy, hard, and closegrained, but is seldom used as a commercial wood. To take care of sourwood trees, dont stint on water. Those panicles age into sweeping sprays of 1/3-inch oval, greenish-brown seed capsules which turn a silvery gray by . They are elliptic to oval or oblong-lanceolate, acute, minnutely serrulate, accuminate, and broadly cuneate. Sign up for our newsletter. List of pests, diseases and tolerances: There aren't any serious insect or disease problems. Also, weevils (Conotrachelus anaglypticus) can damage new growth like buds, shoots, and leaves. It is native to North Carolina and can be found throughout the state, although more rarely in the low, alluvial plain. When planting a sourwood tree, ensure that the soil is organically rich, acidic, and drains well. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Sourwood Tree Seedling gets its name from its sour-tasting leaves. 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. If youve never heard of sourwood trees, you have missed out on one of the most beautiful native species. The common name derives from the sour taste of the leaves, which are finely toothed and glossy. Flowers are quite attractive to bees and the honey is highly sought after. If someone has sourwood trees on their farm, they are fortunate. To grow Oxydendrum arboreum, keep the ground well-watered during dry spells. Yields an oval-shaped fruit that is under " in diameter. Sourwood Honey ~ Pure, Raw, Delicious. 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. The forest floor is covered in fallen leaves, which break down into leaf mold; this is the fungal material of decomposing leaves. It is 118 feet tall with a 2-foot trunk. (zones 5-9). Water them during dry weather, even after they mature, since they are intolerant of drought. Sourwood's wood is hard and has red-tinged brown heartwood and thick layers of pale sapwood. In addition, its attractive summer green and white colors and excellent fall colors create a focal point throughout the growing seasons. You may also appreciate sourwood tree information about the flowers, which are attractive to bees. Sourwood requires an acidic soil that is moist and well-drained. One of the most well-known products from the sourwood tree is the hard-to-find and incredibly delicious honey. The lack of cultivars is because the nursery trade has raised the breeding stock and found many significant mutations to breed. Features simple, elliptic or oblong leaves that are dark green in color and range from 48" long. Caterpillar damage usually results in leaf loss. In addition, their relatively short stature provides plenty of interest at eye level and can be a great addition to your landscape. Most of the critical pruning for sourwoods is when the trees are relatively immature. 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. After filling the hole and. And the honey made from the flowers of the sourwood tree is prized by beekeepers and is often sold at a higher price. The mid- to late-summer flowers are borne in terminal clusters of racemes which curve upward, creating a graceful effect at flowering time. Sourwoods are not drought-tolerant plants and require plenty of moisture during the growing seasons. This tree has a rounded top and branches that droop, making it appear graceful. The Sourwood Tree is a tree that grows in the Appalachian Mountains of North Georgia, North Carolina, and parts of Tennessee. Sourwood has a deep and fibrous root system and has a reputation for being difficult to transplant or move. The flower panicles are long and slender and can curve upward, with the urn-shaped flowers dangling downward. Click here, then click on your county either on the map or from the list of counties below it. Below are common attributes associated to Sourwood Tree. Sourwood tree bark has recognizable deep furrows with patterns resembling alligator hide. The sweet nectar . They bloom during mid-summer. Sourwood tree can be identified by its large, glossy green lanceolate leaves that turn bright red to reddish-purple color in the fall. oxydendrum arboretum sourwood Share: facebook twitter pinterest googleplus linkedin James R. Fazio The Sourwood tree is renowned for its nectar, and for the honey which is produced from it. This virtually eliminates damping off as a problem. The brownish capsules measure up to 0.5 (1.2 cm) long and provide visual ornamental interest contrasting with the vibrantly colored red foliage. In autumn, you can recognize the sourwood tree by the rows of brown fruit standing erect on curving stems. Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum) grows in the upland forests of the southeastern United States. The sourwood trees that honey bees will harvest on average grow between 33 to 66 ft tall. Provides great fall color, with leaves turning crimson, purplish-red and sometimes yellow in the fall. It is the only guaranteed way that I have found of beating . The flowers are attractive to butterflies and other insects. Its vital to prune a sourwood tree when its young to help develop an attractive shape. Hardy in planting zones 4-9. For example, equal parts perlite and peat moss are ideal. Sourwood's shallow root system resents competition from nearby grass or plants. Gourmet honey is produced by the many bees that are attracted to the nectar-laden flowers. Prune sourwood in early spring before its new growth starts. University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources; Native Tree Series; Sourwood, GoLocalProv Lifestyle: The Best Tree You Can Plant This Spring, University of Tennessee Extension: Fertilizing Landscape Trees, University of Georgia College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences: Pruning Ornamental Plants in the Landscapei, The most important gardening tools you didn't know you needed. Fruits on sourwood trees are small oval, egg-shaped capsules with a yellowish or greenish color that mature to grayish-brown color. The flowers droop from the stem and have a pleasant, sweet fragrance. sourwood tree blooms - sourwood tree stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images gone are the clouds, qubec, canada - sourwood tree stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images Hooded firefighter cape in buckskin , Edo period , with family crest, sourwood flowers, 68x54 cm, resist dyed trim with smoked rice paste. . Sourwood tree can be identified by its flowers, leaves, and bark. Sourwood is not too site-demanding and has very few insect or disease problems, making it a low maintenance landscape plant. Sourwood Honey is one of the most sought after honeys in the world. It has simple, alternate, 3 to 8 inch, elongated leaves with finely toothed edges. You can find them growing in oak-heath forests, near riverbanks, and along roadsides. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! The Arboretum offers something for everyone in an unforgettable, tree-filled setting. If you are considering planting sourwood trees, youll be glad to learn that the foliage produces excellent fall color, consistently turning a bright crimson. Click this article to learn about the planting and care of sourwood trees. With proper care, sourwoods can be ornamental overachievers. The main types of pests affecting a sourwood tree are borers, weevils, webworms, and caterpillars. But the best known by-product of the Sourwood tree is the hard-to-find and extremely delicious honey that bees produce from the fragrant blossoms. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. It makes an excellent specimen or focus of the center of a garden surrounded by native perennials. The panicles persist after flowers drop and resemble long fingers. To get rid of webworms, you can cut the webs open to expose the larvae to birds that feed on them. It gets its common name, Lily of the Valley Tree, because its flowers look similar to those of the Lily of the Valley plant. It prefers normal moisture but has some drought tolerance. For graduate student information, contact Dr. Mark Williams at (859) 257-1758, or [email protected]. Read on to learn about the planting and care of sourwood trees. sourwood, sorrel tree, lily-of-the-valley tree. "With no major pests or diseases, this native . The sweet nectar and sap of the sourwood led to early colonists and Native Americans utilizing it for a variety of things. Old fall webworm tents attract invertebrates that birds often eat during late fall and winter. 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. Finally, backfill the hole using the amended native soil. Grow sourwood trees in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 9. Its said that sourwood leaves taste like sour apples. In summer, when most trees are done blooming, Sourwood will grace your yard with gorgeous lacy sprays of small, fragrant white flowers that resemble . It produces small, persistent, tan, dry capsules. Blossoms bloom on sender panicles and have a faint fragrance. Pruning should be done annually in the fall, and you will want to cut the branches to establish a narrow crown on a single slender leader. Find on the Map. 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. . Slow growth rate to 30 feet (9 m) in cultivation, greater in the wild. 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. Browse 168 sourwood tree stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. 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" 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. One of the things that make the sourwood so appealing is the real lack of care that needs to be done to maintain this beautiful ornamental tree. Discover more about the small businesses partnering with Amazon and Amazon's . Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: Fall webworm is an occasional problem. . this difficulty can be overcome by studying the conditions under which it grows best. It prefers full sun to part shade. 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. Also called the sorrel tree, a unique feature of the sourwood tree is that its the only species in the Oxydendrum genus. 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. The best way to get rid of caterpillars is to handpick them and kill them in soapy water. Additionally, the tree produces small urn-shaped flowers that look like lily-of-the-valley flowers. Trees grow best in moist, well-drained acidic soils in full sun to light shade. The dark, thick, furrowed bark is a major winter asset. The sourwood tree is very rarely noticeable if it is not in bloom. The bitter-tasting leaves are alternate, stalked, rather oblong, and 12-20 cm (5-8 inches) long. 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. Deer browse sourwood twigs and leaves. A very ornamental plant, it will flower in 4 to 5 years after planting from seed. Honeybees pollinate the flowers and feed on the sweet nectar. Read our Commitment to Diversity | Read our Privacy Statement. The flowers of the sourwood tree are white and blooming occurs in late spring or early summer. Sourwood has no serious pest problems. Possessing a light and exceptionally floral taste with notes of anise, spice, and gingerbread, sourwood honey is a premium product for most beekeepers. Pests are usually not a problem for Sourwood. Sourwood is one of the first trees to turn fall colors in the Eastern forest. Sourwood grows slowly, adapts to sun or shade, and prefers a slightly acid, peaty loam. This tree produces fragrant, white sprays of flowers in early summer. You can also use a tree fertilizer with an NPK rating of 10-10-10. Sourwood rarely needs pruning. Even the straight species is difficult to find in the trade without looking for the plant in a specialty store. Reports show that using stem cuttings to propagate a sourwood rarely succeeds. It is reportedly sensitive to air pollution injury. Fall webworm can defoliate portions of the tree in summer and fall but usually control is not needed. The best way to water the tree is to apply a trickle of water over several hours to irrigate the roots thoroughly. The new growth that appears is a bronze color with large, dark-green leaves that turn orange and scarlet in color in the Fall. Sourwood tree (Oxydendrum arboreum) with red leaves in the autumn. There are many interesting facts regarding the sourwood tree. Prune out infected branch tips and fertilize. Fragrant white blooms in July in elongated clusters. It is native primarily to the southeastern United States and commonly found on well-drained upland slopes. Sourwood trees near structures? Bare root plants need to be planted within 2-3 days of receiving unless weather-related problems prohibit planting. Space sourwood 15 to 20 feet apart; the tree grows 25 to 35 feet tall and 15 to 20 feet wide. Profile Video: See this plant in the following landscape: Cultivars / Varieties: 'Chameleon' Colorful fall foliage display. This tree grows at a medium rate, with height increases of 1324" per year. During summer, long panicles of distinctive creamy-white bell-shaped fragrant flowers help to identify the tree.