Sourwood, Bare Root

Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum)

Sourwood is a distinctive native tree with year-round interest and ecological benefits. It offers fragrant summer flowers, brilliant red fall foliage, and supports pollinators and birds. Slow-growing and graceful, it’s ideal for native gardens, pollinator plantings, and woodland edges.

Key Characteristics

• Fragrant summer flowers – Long, cascading white blooms in July attract bees and other pollinators during a seasonal nectar gap.
• Supports sourwood honey production – Highly valued by beekeepers; produces one of the most prized monofloral honeys in the U.S.
• Brilliant fall color – Foliage turns vivid red and orange, rivaling maple trees for autumn display.
• Attracts birds and insects – Flowers and fruit support native bees and birds like robins and cedar waxwings.
• Excellent for woodland gardens – Performs well in acidic, well-drained soils and light shade.

Product Details

• Native Range: Southeastern U.S.
• Plant Life Cycle: Deciduous tree
• Sun Requirements: Full sun to part shade
• Soil Requirements: Acidic, medium moisture, well-drained
• Mature Height: 20–40 ft
• Bloom Time: June–July
• Bloom Color: White
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5–9

Sourwood is a pollinator magnet and fall showstopper — a slow-growing native gem for regenerative landscapes and naturalistic gardens.