Plant · GBIF taxon 2882708
sourwood
Oxydendrum arboreumAlso known as Sorrel Tree, Lily-of-the-Valley Tree, Sourwood Tree
Sourwood distinguishes itself in midsummer with drooping spray-like clusters of delicate white, bell-shaped flowers resembling lily-of-the-valley blossoms. In autumn, its long finely toothed leaves turn brilliant shades of crimson and plum, contrasting sharply with persistent tan seed capsules. Appalachian beekeepers value these native trees as the nectar source for prized, light-colored sourwood honey.
DeciduousAppalachian NativeHoney Tree
1 / 7—observations
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Sunlight
- Water
- Soil Nutrients
Predators
- White-Tailed Deer
- Spongy Moth
ThreatsHabitat fragmentation, competition from aggressive non-native plants
HabitatsDeciduous forests, oak-heath woodlands, rocky slopes
Life span70 - 100 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyEricaceae
- SpeciesOxydendrum arboreum
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Summer Bloom Identification: Look for drooping panicles of white bell-shaped flowers from June through August.
- Autumn Foliage Spotting: Identify trees in fall by their intense scarlet leaves paired with dangling dry seed pods.
Pollinator Andreas Trepte / CC BY-SA 2.5 · cc-by-sa
Frequent Companion 
Close Relative (c) Alex Abair, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alex Abair · cc-byClose Relative
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