Fauna
Plant

Sourwood

Oxydendrum arboreum

Also known as Sorrel Tree, Lily of the Valley Tree

Sourwood stands out in deciduous canopies with its leaning trunks, deeply furrowed blocky bark, and glossy, peach-like leaves that turn brilliant crimson in early autumn. In midsummer, it produces one-sided, drooping sprays of fragrant, bell-shaped white blooms reminiscent of lily-of-the-valley, serving as a prized regional nectar source for honeybees. As an understory to mid-canopy tree native to acidic eastern slopes, it is the sole surviving species in its genus.

DeciduousFloweringAppalachian Native
Sourwood reference1 / 7
(c) Emily Summerbell, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Emily Summerbell · cc-by
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preySunlight, Water, Soil nutrients
Predators
  • White-tailed Deer
  • Fall Webworm
  • Eastern Tent Caterpillar
ThreatsHabitat fragmentation, severe drought, and competition from aggressive canopy trees
HabitatsOak-heath forests, rocky upland ridges, well-drained acidic slopes, and woodland margins
Life span100–150 years
Classification
  1. OrderEricales
  2. FamilyEricaceae
  3. GenusOxydendrum
  4. SpeciesOxydendrum arboreum
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Look for curved trunks: Sourwood often grows with a distinctive curved or leaning stem as it reaches toward canopy gaps.
  • Examine midsummer sprays: Drooping floral racemes resemble fingers pointing downward and persist into winter as dry capsules.
Related species
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