Sourwood Trees

Sourwood flowers attract bees that produce light to medium-colored honey, which is popular in the South. This type, or Oxydendrum arboretum, is a medium-sized deciduous tree native to the Eastern and Southeastern United States. You can find them from the coast of Virginia to North Carolina, over into Southern Ohio and Indiana, and down to Mississippi and Louisiana.

The Sourwood Tree Is A Slow Grower

It has a slow growth rate, reaches a height of 25-30 feet, and can take 12-15 years to reach a height of just 15 feet. It has a rounded top and drooping branches, making it appear graceful. Robbinsville, NC, is home to the most massive known Sourwood tree, with a height of 118 feet and a trunk that is 2 feet wide.

The Sourwood Tree Loves Sun Shine

While it will do well in full sun or partial shade, its flowers and fall color do best in full sun. It is sensitive to root disturbance and dry, compacted soil. The bark is a grayish-brown color tinged with red and features thick, scaly ridges. Its lumber is used for tool handles and, at one time, was used in wagon sled runners.

The Sourwood Tree Has Stunning Glossy Foliage

It has dark green, glossy leaves that are oblong. The sheets measure 3 to 8 inches long and taper off into a point. In early summer, it blooms with small, white, bell-shaped flowers about a quarter-inch in size that grow at the end of the branches. The flowers give way to small, brown fruit clusters that resemble tassels. In the fall, the leaves turn an intense red, purplish-red, or sometimes yellow, making this type a real showstopper.

These lovely types acquire their magnificence during the mid-year warmth months.

Unlike numerous others, these only sprout once the warmth of summer. The tree sprout is vast and white, coming in little bunches. These tiny sprouts are fragrant and go with the dark green clears out.

The Sourwood Tree Turns Stunning Colors In The Fall

These transform into red, yellow, and orange reference points in the fall, looking like living flames. Likewise, they deliver tiny dim seeds that flying creatures can eat, providing a winter sustenance source. The Sourwood develops as high as thirty feet but remains little.