The Sourwood Tree

Sugar Maple Tree

Sugar Maple Trees are best known for their bright fall foliage and being the primary syrup source; they are native to the northeast United States. The deciduous type can reach heights of 80-115 feet tall, sometimes exceptionally reaching 148 feet. At ten years old, it usually is about 16 feet tall. When healthy, these can live for over 400 years. The leaves are deciduous, with up to 20 cm of length and equal width and five palmate lobes. The Sugar Maple Tree Loves Acidic Soil They can be expected to grow in Hardiness Zones 3-8. The Acer saccharum prefers deep, acidic to slightly alkaline, and well-drained soil. It has moderate drought tolerance but prefers moist soil conditions. At maturity, the acer saccharum grows to 60-75 feet, with a crown of 40-50 feet. It has a slow to medium growth rate and increases in height anywhere from less than 12 inches to 24 inches per year. Sugar Maple Tree Is Good For Shade And Decor It's both an ornamental and a shade type; it features a spreading canopy that can block sunlight while adding beauty and visual interest to landscaping. Full sun and partial shade are best for them, and they prefer at least four hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight daily. Sugar Maple Tree Has Stunning Orange Foliage In The Fall The sugar maple tree puts on quite a show in the fall, with beautiful leaves turning red, yellow, and burnt orange. In wildlife, they are commonly browsed by moose, white-tailed deer, and snowshoe hare. The seeds, twigs, leaves, and buds feed squirrels. Since it is fast-growing, easy to transplant, and has beautiful color, the sugar maple tree was a favorite type for streets and parks in the 19th century. Ultimately, it proved too delicate to continue in that role, but it is still great for commercial use in syrup production.

Sourwood Tree

The Sourwood Tree goes by several names. It is known as the sorrel, elk, arrowwood, and lily-of-the-valley tree because its beautiful aromatic blossoms are redolent from the classic lily-of-the-valley flowers. It yields the well-known sourwood honey. It is native to the United States and is considered endemic to the region. It is found in other countries only if imported and planted there, as it does not naturally grow elsewhere. It is an attractive addition to your outdoor living space with its vibrant fall colors, alluring mid-summer blooms, and seed-pod ornamental strings in winter. Where Does Sourwood Tree Thrive It is a natural resident of the southern Appalachian mountains, mainly found between southern Pennsylvania and northern Florida. It is one of the key contributors to the colors of the leaf-peeping fall season in the region. It also grows in parts of Mississippi, Louisiana, and Illinois. It requires moist, well-drained, acidic soil. Clay and loam are ideal media for its growth. Although it is somewhat tolerant to dry conditions, thick layers of mulch will help safeguard its shallow root system from drying out. Since it requires at least six hours of direct sunlight daily, it should be planted in an area not shaded by a building or a more significant type. This will also help them yield blooms and fall colors to the best extent possible. Attributes Of The Sourwood Tree Strings of fragrant, white bell-shaped blossoms gracefully hang from its branches in mid-summer. Its biggest draw is when its lovely long leaves turn purple, crimson, burgundy, and yellow in the fall. After the leaves are shed, its blooms change into rows of coppery-brown fruit, which persist as seed pods in the winter, giving it ornamental value for every season. Its blooms also yield a desirable variety of honey. It grows to a height of 25 to 30 feet, and its oval crown spreads to around 20 feet. Its height increases by one or two feet a year. Its dark green glossy leaves are oblong and four to eight inches long. The plant owes its name to the acrid flavor of its leaves. The scientific name is oxydendron arboreum, and oxydendron translates to acid leaves in Greek. Its rust-colored bark has deep fissures. It is generally resistant to attacks from insects and pests. Sourwood Tree Has Fragrant Blooms Its main feature is the sweet nectar secreted by its aromatic flowers, which is attractive to several varieties of butterflies and bees and beneficial to the ecosystem. The premium honey produced from this nectar is slow to harden or develop granules. Tool and wagon parts were once fashioned from its thick and tough wood. The trunk has natural hollows that refuge wildlife like bats and reptiles. The sourwood tree is a unique type with no relative species. It can beautify its surroundings for up to eighty years. An intrinsic part of American lore, it produces a dense and luscious variety of honey and provides refuge to songbirds. For these reasons, it is a delightful addition to your yard.