Sourwood, Sorrel Tree, or Titi
Oxydendrum arboreum (ERICACEAE)
Planting and Growing Sourwood Trees
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow sourwood trees in the accompanying table’s tabs:
-
- Flowers, foliage, fruit caps, and seeds of sourwood trees
- Growing conditions for sourwood
- When to plant sourwood
- How to plant sourwood
- How to prune sourwood
- Watering, fertilizing, and care of sourwood
- Landscape uses of sourwood
- Pest and disease control for sourwood
Growing Sourwood Trees
Single species of medium-growing, upright, pyramid-shaped, deciduous tree, eventually 50–80 ft. (15–24 m) tall but usually less than 30 ft. (9 m), with alternate, shiny, bronze turning deep green, lance-shaped, pointed, finely toothed leaves, to 8 in. (20 cm) long, turning orange, purple, red, yellow in autumn, and with brown gray bark.
Sourwood Planting and Care Guide
Flowers and Fruit
Many fragrant, lily-of-the-valley–like, creamy white, bell-shaped flowers, to 5/16 in. (8 mm) long, in dangling clusters, in summer, form leathery green fruit caps containing seed, in branched, spreading clusters, in autumn.
Best Climates
U.S.D.A. Plant Hardiness Zones 5–9. Hardy. Best with winter chill, mild summers.
Soil Type and Fertility
Moist, well-drained soil. Fertility: Rich. 5.5–6.5 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Full sun to partial shade. Space 8–12 ft. (2.4–3.7 m) apart.
Proper Care
Easy. Keep moist; allow soil surface to dry between waterings until established. Avoid cultivating beneath tree. Prune in autumn. Propagate by seed.
About This Species
Good choice for accents, beds, borders, containers, edgings in formal, small-space gardens and patios. Good for seasonal shade. Attracts bees. Pest, disease resistant.