Lily of the Valley Tree, (Sourwood), Oxydendrum arboreum, Tree Seeds


Long Lasting Showy Fragrant Flowers, Excellent Red Fall Color, Moist Soil, Acid Loving, Attracts Honey Bees


The Sourwood Tree is one of the most beautiful and unusual trees. Masses of fragrant urn-shaped flowers in drooping clusters followed by an excellent contrast of brilliant red fall leaf color and long white seed pods.

The Sourwood is a deciduous, medium sized tree that grows to heights of 30 to 60 feet. The tree has a slender pyramid form often with a curved or leaning trunk. In spring and early summer the sourwood changes almost overnight from a pretty green shade tree into a white cloud of thousands of fragrant Lily of the Valley like flowers. Due to the similarity of the flowers and its fragrance, this tree is also commonly called the Lily of the Valley Tree. It holds its fragrant white flowers against lustrous foliage for almost a whole month and creates quite a show. When in bloom the honeybee will seek out the trees' abundant white flowers that it uses to create a delicious treat. Superior quality Sourwood honey is produced from the flowers pollen. Then the first frost causes the whole tree to turn to a brilliant flaming or crimson red which is rivaled by only a few other trees. There are few sights that are as striking as a row of Sourwood in fall color.

Sourwood is the only species in the genus Oxydendron. That is a shame because Oxydendron is a cool name. Oxy- is Greek for "acid" or "sharp". Dendron is from the Greek for "tree" so this is a very descriptive name that references the plant's acidic (sour to the taste) foliage.


Leaf: Simple oblong leaves, up to 10 inches long that are rich green and glossy on top. The attractive leaves (similar to peach) are held alternately on the stems and like the sap, have an acid taste. Leaves produce consistently excellent fall color, typically turning crimson red and scarlet and sometimes almost purple.
Flower: In spring and early summer monoecious (both male and female) white blossoms are borne on long drooping stalks called racemes that are 8 to 10 inches in length. The small fragrant white flowers are about 1/3 inch long and shaped like urns held upside down along the length of the raceme. At the tip of each branch several racemes are held in groups called panicles that droop toward the ground and impart a graceful aspect to this fine little tree.

Fruit: Flower panicle stems remains in place as the flowers give way to 5-parted dry capsules that ripen to silver gray in September. Capsules contrast well with the red fall color and provide continuing ornamental interest after leaf drop into winter.
Twig: Olive green, changing to red, with buds that are small, round and oppressed (almost absent); leaf scars are elevated with one bundle scar.
Bark: Rusty-brown and smooth when young later becoming grayish brown, very thick with deep furrows and scaly ridges; often the ridges are broken into recognizable rectangles.

Other Names: Sourwood, Lily of the Valley Tree, Honey Tree, Sorrel Tree

Zone: 5 to 9

Growth Rate: Slow

Plant Type: Deciduous medium sized flowering tree

Family: Ericaceae

Native Range: Eastern and southeastern United States
Height: 20 to 50 feet
Spread: 10 to 25 feet
Shape: Pyramidal with drooping and swooping branches

Bloom Time: June - July

Bloom Color: White
Flower/Fruit: 1/4 inch small, fragrant masses of white urn-shaped flowers.

Sun: Full Sun to Part Shade

Fall Color: Excellent rich maroon, scarlet or plum color.

Drought Tolerance: Low

Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low

Site Requirements/ Soil Tolerances: Best grown in acidic, moist, organically rich, well-drained soils in full sun but is adaptable. Tolerates part shade, but with somewhat diminished flowering and fall color. Intolerant of drought and pollution.

Culture: Difficult to transplant. Young or recently moved trees lack full cold hardiness in zone 5.

Uses: Beautiful small specimen flowering tree with multi-season interest for lawns, patios, shade gardens or open woodland areas. Plant with azaleas and rhododendrons or other plants that share the same acidic soil preferences.


Sowing Oxydendrum arboreum Seeds:

The seeds of Sourwood are very small.

For best results, please follow the instructions in the order provided.

Germination: Surface Sow indoors under a dome lid and grow light. Keep warm and moist with a mister, (Not wet). Requires light for germination. Artificial light is recommended.

For more information about seed pretreatment and growing trees and shrubs from seed, please download this .pdf:

https://cdn.forestresearch.gov.uk/2007/08/fcpg018.pdf


Germination:

  1. Seeds Packets are labeled with seed name and sowing details.
  2. Seeds have not been pretreated unless specified in the listing.
  3. Seed is not a specific Cultivar (Variety) unless specified in the listing.
  4. Due to the many factors involved in successful germination, Seller cannot be responsible for buyers growing methods or mistakes.
  5. I have provided what I believe to be a good overview on this page (which you are free to print for further reference), however, it is still recommended to check specialist literature for more details and practices specific to your climate and soil conditions to avoid mistakes in the germination and growing process.

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