The Sourwood Tree goes by several names. It is known as the sorrel, elk, arrowwood, and lily-of-the-valley tree because its beautiful aromatic blossoms are redolent from the classic lily-of-the-valley flowers. It yields the well-known sourwood honey. It is native to the United States and is considered endemic to the region. It is found in other countries only if imported and planted there, as it does not naturally grow elsewhere. It is an attractive addition to your outdoor living space with its vibrant fall colors, alluring mid-summer blooms, and seed-pod ornamental strings in winter.
Where Does Sourwood Tree Thrive
It is a natural resident of the southern Appalachian mountains, mainly found between southern Pennsylvania and northern Florida. It is one of the key contributors to the colors of the leaf-peeping fall season in the region. It also grows in parts of Mississippi, Louisiana, and Illinois.
It requires moist, well-drained, acidic soil. Clay and loam are ideal media for its growth. Although it is somewhat tolerant to dry conditions, thick layers of mulch will help safeguard its shallow root system from drying out.
Since it requires at least six hours of direct sunlight daily, it should be planted in an area not shaded by a building or a more significant type. This will also help them yield blooms and fall colors to the best extent possible.
Attributes Of The Sourwood Tree
Strings of fragrant, white bell-shaped blossoms gracefully hang from its branches in mid-summer. Its biggest draw is when its lovely long leaves turn purple, crimson, burgundy, and yellow in the fall. After the leaves are shed, its blooms change into rows of coppery-brown fruit, which persist as seed pods in the winter, giving it ornamental value for every season. Its blooms also yield a desirable variety of honey.
It grows to a height of 25 to 30 feet, and its oval crown spreads to around 20 feet. Its height increases by one or two feet a year. Its dark green glossy leaves are oblong and four to eight inches long. The plant owes its name to the acrid flavor of its leaves. The scientific name is oxydendron arboreum, and oxydendron translates to acid leaves in Greek. Its rust-colored bark has deep fissures. It is generally resistant to attacks from insects and pests.
Sourwood Tree Has Fragrant Blooms
Its main feature is the sweet nectar secreted by its aromatic flowers, which is attractive to several varieties of butterflies and bees and beneficial to the ecosystem. The premium honey produced from this nectar is slow to harden or develop granules. Tool and wagon parts were once fashioned from its thick and tough wood. The trunk has natural hollows that refuge wildlife like bats and reptiles.
The sourwood tree is a unique type with no relative species. It can beautify its surroundings for up to eighty years. An intrinsic part of American lore, it produces a dense and luscious variety of honey and provides refuge to songbirds. For these reasons, it is a delightful addition to your yard.