Oxydendrum arboreum (Sourwood)

Prized for its multi-season interest, Oxydendrum arboreum (Sourwood) is a slow-growing, deciduous tree of delicately pyramidal habit with a slender trunk and a narrow oblong crown. Its slightly pendulous branches are clothed with alternate, finely toothed, glossy green leaves, which turn brilliant crimson-red to dark purple in the fall. The leaves have a sour taste, hence the common name. In early summer, fragrant, urn-shaped, creamy-white flowers resembling those of lily-of-the-valley are borne in drooping, one-sided panicles up to 10 in. long (25 cm) at the branch tips. Attractive to bees, they bloom for about 3-4 weeks and are followed by small, silver-gray capsules that persist through winter and contrast well with the red foliage. The gray bark is fissured, ridged and scaly on mature trees, providing winter interest. A gorgeous flowering tree that offers year-round interest and is a great choice for naturalizing in acid soils. Excellent specimen, patio, or lawn tree. The flowers are used to make prized honey.

• Grows up to 20-30 ft. tall and wide (6-9 m) but can reach 50 ft in height (15m) in the wild.
• Performs best in organically rich, moist, acidic, well-drained soils in full sun or part shade. Best flower production and foliage color is obtained in full sun. The tree does reasonably well in dry, neutral soils and is moderately tolerant of salt.
• Perfect as a specimen plant for cottage gardens, shade gardens, or woodland gardens.
• Generally pest and disease-free. Deer resistant.
• No routine pruning is necessary. Remove diseased, damaged, congested, or crossing shoots.
• Propagate by seed and semi-hardwood cuttings.
• Native to the eastern United States from Pennsylvania south to Florida and Louisiana.