Sourwood
Oxydendrum arboreum
- Native to:
- United States
Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Ericaceae
- Genus:
- Oxydendrum
- Species:
- Oxydendrum arboreum
- USDA Symbol:
- OXAR
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 1500 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug
- Bloom Colors:
- white
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★★☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
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
Moths:Fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fall Color:
- red, scarlet, purple
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from the root crown following fire. Historically associated with fire-maintained oak-hickory forests.
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
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–42 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require light for germination; surface sow and do not cover. Germination can be erratic.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
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