# Oxydendrum

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***Oxydendrum arboreum*** (/ˌɒksᵻˈdɛndrəmɑrˈbɔəriəm/ OK-sih-DEN-drəm-_-ar-BOR-ee-əm),[1] commonly known as **sourwood** or **sorrel tree**, is the sole [species](/source/Species) in the [genus](/source/Genus) ***Oxydendrum***, in the family [Ericaceae](/source/Ericaceae). It is native to eastern [North America](/source/North_America), from southern [Pennsylvania](/source/Pennsylvania) south to northwest [Florida](/source/Florida) and west to southern [Illinois](/source/Illinois); it is most common in the lower chain of the [Appalachian Mountains](/source/Appalachian_Mountains). The tree is frequently seen as a component of [oak-heath forests](/source/Oak-heath_forest).[2][3]

## Growth

Sourwood is a small [tree](/source/Tree) or large [shrub](/source/Shrub), growing to 10–20 m (33–66 ft) tall with a trunk up to 50 cm (20 in) diameter. Occasionally on extremely productive sites, this species can reach heights in excess of 30 meters and 60 cm diameter. The [leaves](/source/Leaves) are alternately arranged, [deciduous](/source/Deciduous), 8–20 cm (3.1–7.9 in) long and 4–9 cm (1.6–3.5 in) broad, with a finely [serrated](/source/Serrated) margin; they are dark green in summer, but turn vivid red in fall. The [flowers](/source/Flower) are white, bell-shaped, 6–9 mm ( 1/4 to 1/3 inch) long, produced on 15–25 cm (5.9–9.8 in) long [panicles](/source/Panicle). The [fruit](/source/Fruit) is a small woody [capsule](/source/Capsule_(fruit)). The [roots](/source/Root) are shallow, and the tree grows best when there is little root competition; it also requires [acidic soils](/source/Acidic_soil) for successful growth. The leaves can be chewed (but should not be swallowed) to help alleviate a dry-feeling mouth.

## Description

The bark is gray with a reddish tinge, deeply furrowed and scaly. Branchlets at first are light yellow green, but later turn reddish brown.[4] The wood is reddish brown, with paler [sapwood](/source/Sapwood_(wood)); it is heavy, hard, and close-grained, and will take a high polish. Its specific gravity is 0.7458, with a density of 46.48 lb/cu ft.

The winter buds are [axillary](/source/Axillary_(botany)), minute, dark red, and partly immersed in the bark. Inner scales enlarge when spring growth begins.

Leaves are [alternate](/source/Alternate_leaf), four to seven inches long, 1.5 to 2.5 inches wide, oblong to [oblanceolate](/source/Oblanceolate), wedge-shaped at the base, serrate, and acute or [acuminate](/source/Acuminate). Leaf veins are [feather-veined](/source/Feather-veined), the [midrib](/source/Midrib) is conspicuous. They emerge from the bud [revolute](/source/Revolute_leaf), bronze green and shining, and smooth; when full-grown, they are dark green, shining above, and pale and glaucous below. In autumn, they turn bright scarlet. [Petioles](/source/Petiole_(botany)) are long and slender, with [stipules](/source/Stipule) wanting. They are heavily laden with acid.

In June and July, cream-white flowers are borne in terminal panicles of secund [racemes](/source/Raceme) seven to eight inches long; rachis and short pedicels are downy. The [calyx](/source/Calyx_(botany)) is five-parted and persistent; [lobes](/source/Lobe_(anatomy)) are [valvate](/source/Valvate) in bud. The [corolla](/source/Corolla_(botany)) is ovoid-cylindric, narrowed at the throat, cream-white, and five-toothed. The 10 [stamens](/source/Stamen) are inserted on the corolla; filaments are wider than the [anthers](/source/Anther); anthers are two-celled. The [pistil](/source/Pistil) is ovary superior, ovoid, and five-celled; the style is columnar; the stigma is simple; the disk is ten-toothed, and ovules are many.

The fruit is a [capsule](/source/Capsule_(botany)), downy, five-valved, five-angled, and tipped by the persistent style; the [pedicels](/source/Pedicel_(botany)) are curving.[5]

## Cultivation and uses

The sourwood is hardy in the north and a worthy [ornamental tree](/source/Ornamental_plant#Trees) in lawns and parks. Its late bloom makes it desirable, and its autumnal coloring is particularly beautiful and brilliant. The leaves are heavily charged with acid, and to some extent have the poise of those of the [peach](/source/Peach).[5] The leaves are also a [laxative](/source/Laxative).[6]

Sourwood is renowned for the honey that bees produce from the [nectar](/source/Nectar) of its flowers.[7][8] Juice from its blooms is used to make sourwood [jelly](/source/Fruit_preserves). The shoots were used by the [Cherokee](/source/Cherokee) and the [Catawba](/source/Catawba_(tribe)) to make arrowshafts.

## In Appalachian culture

[Sourwood Mountain](/source/Sourwood_Mountain) is a popular [old-time](/source/Old-time_music) tune in the Appalachian region of the United States.

## References

1. *Sunset Western Garden Book*. 1995. pp. 606–607.

1. ["The Natural Communities of Virginia Classification of Ecological Community Groups (Version 2.3)"](http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural_heritage/ncTIIIe.shtml). Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. 2010. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090115181617/http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural_heritage/ncTIIIe.shtml) 2009-01-15 at the Wayback Machine.

1. Schafale, M. P. & A. S., Weakley (1990). *Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina: third approximation*. North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation.

1. ["Sourwood | Yale Nature Walk"](https://naturewalk.yale.edu/trees/ericaceae/oxydendrum-arboreum/sourwood-164). *naturewalk.yale.edu*. Retrieved 2025-08-12.

1. Keeler, Harriet L. (1900). [*Our Native Trees and How to Identify Them*](https://archive.org/details/ournativetreesa02keelgoog). New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. pp. [192](https://archive.org/details/ournativetreesa02keelgoog/page/n221)–194.

1. ["Sourwood | Augusta, GA - Official Website"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190202042452/https://www.augustaga.gov/1631/Sourwood). *www.augustaga.gov*. Archived from [the original](https://www.augustaga.gov/1631/Sourwood) on 2019-02-02. Retrieved 2019-02-01.

1. Caron, Dewey M. & Connor, Lawrence John (2013). *Honey Bee Biology and Beekeeping*. Wicwas Press. p. 151. ISBN 978-1-87-807529-1.

1. *National Audubon Society Field Guide to Trees, Eastern Region, North America*. [Alfred A. Knopf](/source/Alfred_A._Knopf). 2003. p. 626. ISBN 978-0-39-450760-6.

## External links

- [*Oxydendrum arboreum* images at bioimages.vanderbilt.edu](https://web.archive.org/web/20100114163225/http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/species/frame/oxar.htm)
- [*Oxydendrum arboreum* images, locations all over the world at PlantNet.org](https://identify.plantnet.org/ro/k-world-flora/species/Oxydendrum%20arboreum%20(L.)%20DC./data)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Oxydendrum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxydendrum) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxydendrum?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.