Sourwood

Oxydendrum arboreum

This week’s tree of the week is a medium sized specimen of sourwood gracing the front yard of a house on Hillside Ave. Sourwood, or sorrel tree, is named after the acidic taste of its leaves. It is the only species in its genera of Oxydendrum. Being in the Ericaceae family, its closest relatives are the rhododendrons and azaleas found in its native under-story range of the US Appalachia. Sourwood does have medicinal properties and honey produced from its nectar is highly valued.

You would expect to see this tree planted more often as it is a one of a select few trees that bloom in the summer and it has a spectacular bright crimson fall color. But sourwood is a very under-utilized tree because of its slow growth and difficulty to propagate by any other means than seed, making it an expensive addition to the landscape. The variation of seedlings and crooked growth normally associated with this tree gives individuals unique character but it does not promote well for planting this tree en masse.