Oxydendrum arboreum sourwood, sorrel tree

Sourwood is a rare species from North America. It looks like a fairy-tale tree as if stolen from an animated fantasy movie because it does not resemble any other plant commonly grown here. It is a slow growing small tree or a large shrub with a narrowly pyramidal growth when young, and spreading a little with age.

Its deciduous leaves are elliptic to lanceolate, glossy and rich green in summer, turning brilliant red and even purple in autumn. In summer it produces abundance of urn-shaped, lily-of-the-valley-like flowers formed in 20-25 cm long pendent racemes. The flowering can last for as long as 4 weeks with bees and bumble-bees harvesting its nectar. Sourwood honey is a specialty in North America and it does not taste sour like the rest of the plant.

If you like unusual and rare plants find this gorgeousness a nice spot in your garden. Look twice or even three times before planting it as it does not like transplanting. Once you have found it, put it in there and do not move it ever. It will make about 5-8m tall and half as wide. In the wild it commonly gets much bigger.

Grow it in full sun or only a little shade in very acid, moist but well-drained, humus-rich soil. It is not good for wind-exposed and boggy sites. Pruning can be done in early spring after frost. Fully hardy to about -29°C (USDA zone 5).

Last update 29-11-2011