Ericaceae
Sourwood
Oxydendrum arboreum
Also known as Titi, Sorrel tree, Lily-of-the-valley tree, Lyonia arborea
Flowering Plants · Native Plants · Trees & Shrubs · Native Tree · Fall Color · Ornamental Tree · Acidic Soil · Sourwood Honey · White Flowers · Four-Season Interest · Pollinator · Deciduous
Sourwood is a stunning four-season native tree prized for its drooping white summer flowers, brilliant red fall foliage, and attractive ridged bark in winter. Plant in acidic, well-drained soil with partial to full sun and water regularly while establishing, then reduce frequency once mature. It grows slowly but rewards patient gardeners with exceptional ornamental value and is a favorite of bees that produce prized sourwood honey.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 5 hours
- Watering
- Water deeply until soil is moist to 6 inches; allow surface to dry slightly between waterings · Every 7-10 days
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- loam
- Soil pH
- 4–6.5
- Temperature
- -25°F to 95°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed
Hardiness
USDA 4b-9b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 10 ft – 30 ft
- Spread
- 15 ft
- Spacing
- 240 in apart
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Root depth
- Shallow
- Flowers
- White
- Foliage
- Green · Coarse
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia
- Attracts
- Bees, Butterflies, Birds
Sources: trefle
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