sourwood

Plant Type

Large Tree (greater than 25 ft)

Life Cycle

Perennial

Typical Size

20-30 ft. tall
10-15 ft. wide

Tolerant of

Drought, Salt Exposure

Inolerant of

Poorly Drained Soil

Propagation

By seed, By cutting

Plant Propagation Notes

Use softwood cuttings with rooting hormone. No pretreatment is necessary for seed.

Plant Planting Notes

Provide up to 15 ft spacing.

Plants/Diseases

No significant disease or pest issues. Fall webworm, leaf spot, and twig blight are infrequent problems.

Wildlife Benefits

Nectar/pollen source for pollinating insects, Supports numerous caterpillars (bird food)

Leaves

Leaves alternate, elliptical, lanceolate, or oblong with serrate margins.

Flowers

White to cream or tan, bell-shaped, and fragrant on long panicles.

Fruit

Capsule.

Bark

New shoots are bright green with prominent lenticels. Older bark is dark gray with deep furrows and blocky

Toxicity

Mild toxicity if consumed in large quantities.

USDA Hardiness Zones

5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Light Exposure

Full Sun, Part Sun/Shade, Full Shade

Soil Moisture

Moist

Soil Drainage

Well-drained

Soil pH

Acidic (less than 6.0)

Native in South Carolina?

Yes

Plant Native Habitat

Oak-hickory and oak-pine forests with mesic or xeric soils and sandhill/pocosin ecotones.

Global Conservation Status (NatureServe)

Secure (G5)

Federal Conservation Status (USFWS)

Not Listed

Distribution Notes

Common throughout South Carolina.