Sourwood
Oxydendrum arboreum
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Ericaceae
- Genus:
- Oxydendrum
- Species:
- Oxydendrum arboreum
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- More than 40 ft
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- apr, may, jun, jul, aug
- Bloom Colors:
- White
Native Range
United States: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Acronicta impleta, Dichomeris ligulella, Fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea), Lettered Sphinx (Deidamia inscriptum), Pangrapta decoralis, Phyllonorycter diversella, Regal Moth (Citheronia regalis), Spotted Tussock Moth (Lophocampa maculata), White-marked Tussock Moth (Orgyia leucostigma), Xystopeplus rufago, Yellownecked caterpillar (Datana ministra)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Butterflies:American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis), Azure sp. (Celastrina Tutt), Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus), Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus), Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia), Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia), Coral Hairstreak (Satyrium titus), Coral Hairstreak (Satyrium titus), Duskywing sp. (Erynnis Schrank), Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas), Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas), Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Pterourus glaucus), Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Pterourus glaucus), Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus), Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus), Great Purple Hairstreak (Atlides halesus), Great Purple Hairstreak (Atlides halesus), Horace's Duskywing (Gesta Evans), King's Hairstreak (Satyrium kingi), King's Hairstreak (Satyrium kingi), ⚠️Monarch (Danaus plexippus), Northern Cloudywing (Cecropterus Herrich-Schäffer), Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius), Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius), Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme), Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme), Palamedes Swallowtail (Pterourus palamedes), Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), Red-Spotted Purple (astyanax) (Limenitis arthemis), Red-Spotted Purple (astyanax) (Limenitis arthemis), Sleepy Orange (Abaeis nicippe), Sleepy Orange (Abaeis nicippe), Spicebush Swallowtail (Pterourus troilus), Summer Azure (Celastrina neglecta), Summer Azure (Celastrina neglecta), Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia), Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia), Zarucco Duskywing (Erynnis zarucco), Zarucco Duskywing (Erynnis zarucco), Zebra Swallowtail (Eurytides marcellus), Zebra Swallowtail (Eurytides marcellus)
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 4.5 - 6.5 (acidic to slightly acidic)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers undisturbed forest soils
Germination Information
Pre-treatment: None required
Establishment: Seeds are typically collected from trees in the Southern Appalachian Region from September to November. No specific temperature information or germination rate was provided in the protocols.
Source: npn.rngr.net