SUMMER BLOOMS AND STUNNING CRIMSON FALL COLOR
FEATURES:
- Fairytale-like white flowers bloom in summer adding a unique flowering feather effect to this native tree
- Lobed green leaves change bright red in fall
- Outstanding long-living shade tree
- May Benefit & Attract: Cardinals, grosbeaks, wrens, sparrows, thrushes, orioles, finches, mockingbirds, thrashers, and vireos
- The National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow.
- This bird-friendly native plant provides food and shelter for local and migrating birds and other wildlife
- All Audubon® branded trees and plants are grown 100% Neonic-free by Bower & Branch, making these plants safer for the birds and safer for the environment.
- Hand Selected, Fresh from the Grower
- Ships in a plant-safe designed box
Growth Facts
- Hardiness Zone: 5-9
- Mature Height: 20-30' tall
- Mature Width: 15-20' wide
- Exposure: Full Sun/Part Shade
- Spacing: 20-30' apart
Audubon® Native Sourwood Treeling
Bower & Branch Trees and Plants
Audubon® Plants for Birds: Oxydendrum arboreum
Regular price
1(866) 873-3888
SUMMER BLOOMS AND STUNNING CRIMSON FALL COLOR
FEATURES:
- Fairytale-like white flowers bloom in summer adding a unique flowering feather effect to this native tree
- Lobed green leaves change bright red in fall
- Outstanding long-living shade tree
- May Benefit & Attract: Cardinals, grosbeaks, wrens, sparrows, thrushes, orioles, finches, mockingbirds, thrashers, and vireos
- The National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow.
- This bird-friendly native plant provides food and shelter for local and migrating birds and other wildlife
- All Audubon® branded trees and plants are grown 100% Neonic-free by Bower & Branch, making these plants safer for the birds and safer for the environment.
- Hand Selected, Fresh from the Grower
- Ships in a plant-safe designed box
Growth Facts
- Hardiness Zone: 5-9
- Mature Height: 20-30' tall
- Mature Width: 15-20' wide
- Exposure: Full Sun/Part Shade
- Spacing: 20-30' apart
Why plant Audubon® Native Sourwood Treeling?
Sourwood is a well-kept secret among tree afficianados. It does not grace a lot of homes, and that’s a shame, because it’s one fantastic tree! This elegant, slow-growing native has something to offer in every season—airy sprays of white flowers in summer, lava-red foliage in fall, and handsome, blocky bark the rest of the year. What’s more, it’s a pollinator paradise! Sourwood is not a secret among beekeepers—honey bees relish the blossoms, and from it they make what many consider to be the finest honey in the world. Native bees delight in the blooms, too.
Native from Pennsylvania to Florida and west to Indiana, the Sourwood Tree is a wonderful part of our country’s rich natural heritage. What makes it extra-special is that it is the only species of Sourwood (Oxydendrum) in the world. Gardeners in other countries covet our beautiful Sourwoods, but most Americans don’t even know they exist! This elegant tree can be found at forest edges, in fencerows, on streambanks, and atop gravelly ridges in the Southeast. It is one of the very first trees to turn color in the fall, so you might notice it along roadsides in September when driving there—even at 55 mph.
How to use Audubon® Native Sourwood Treeling in the landscape?
Sourwood are perfectly sized for modern lots and the best choice for a shade or accent tree in yards.
Audubon® Native Plants & Trees
Audubon is devoted to protecting birds and the places they need, while Bower & Branch is devoted to the growth of true native trees and plants–no cultivars or hybrids. Together, we strive to unite communities in conservation and inspire individuals to cultivate a better world for birds starting in their own backyards, balconies, or patios. By guiding and recommending trees and plants truly native and beneficial to your region, we can really start to make a difference.
What is the definition of Native?
“In the United States, a native plant is defined as one that was naturally found in a particular area before European colonization. Native plants are the foundation of a region’s biodiversity, providing essential food sources and shelter for birds, especially those threatened by the changing climate. Since native plants are adapted to local precipitation and soil conditions, they generally require less upkeep, therefore helping the environment and saving you time, water, and money.” – The National Audubon Society
Learn how you can help birds in your home and community through Audubon’s Plants for Birds program.
Audubon® is a licensed and registered trademark of the National Audubon Society. All rights reserved.
Planting Zones
Hardiness Zone: 5-9
How To Plant Audubon® Native Sourwood Treeling
Sourwood is a tad fussy in the landscape, but it can be grown well when given what it needs to flourish. Sourwood is in the same family as Azaleas and Rhododendrons, and it relishes the same things that most of those plants do—acidic soil enriched with compost, regular irrigation, good drainage, and a topping of organic mulch. It also benefits from having access to a rich source of beneficial fungi in the soil. Site it in a position in full sun for the best flowering and fall color, although light shade is excellent, too. Disease and insect problems are few.
How To Water
Water your Sourwood consistently for the first growing season. Once established the plant can sustain itself from rainfall.
How To Fertilize
Let your Sourwood establish for a year before fertilizing. In the fall, after the leaves have dropped use our Elements Starter Plant Food.
How To Prune
A young tree may need a little extra support to ensure that it lives a long and healthy life. Stake your new Treeling with a 6-8 foot tall wood or bamboo stake. Use expandable ties that will stretch as the tree grows, fastening the stake to the main trunk from the base to the top. Check the ties every few months, at least twice a year; ensuring the ties are not digging into the trunk. If there is any sign of this, take the tie off and reattach it, giving the tree more room to grow.
As your tree grows, remove a few of the lower branches each year in mid to late summer. Remove these lower branches before they reach 1/2 inch in diameter. It is better to make small cuts to avoid cutting a large, more mature branch - this is too stressful for the tree. Each year, make any corrective pruning needed, paying particular attention to removing damaged branches, rubbing branches, multiple leaders at the top, or suckers at the base. Limit any pruning to no more than 25% of the branching structure in a given year. Pruning benefits the tree and helps to achieve a balanced tree form.
After two or three years you can feel free to remove the stake from the tree.
How Does Shipping Work?
Size Small (AAA), Medium (A2A), and Large (AA) plants (our Treelings, Shrubs, Bushes, and Perennials) will be shipped directly to your home by a common carrier. Ships in a plant-safe designed box within 5-7 business days.
How Does Sizing Work?
The size of our trees have nothing to do with the container size like you may find elsewhere–big doesn't mean just height - it’s also vigor, age, and overall health.. Other online retailers are going to tell you that a plant is a seven gallon, that means nothing to your tree or plant (or you.)
Our trees for sale online are graded on large, x-large, and even bigger sizes. This is because our trees are sized by their age—the higher the letter, the more mature the tree. The age determines the trees’ overall height, size of the trunk and the overall branch density.
All of these characteristics are what you should be looking for when choosing a tree for immediate impact and instant curb appeal. Our extra-large tree and plant sizes are sure to wow you and your neighbors!
See the size guides below.
