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Sourwood in Utah?

15 years ago

Has anyone planted a Sourwood in Utah?

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Comments (12)

laceyvail 6A, WV
15 years ago
They need acid soild. Do you have that in Utah?
marymd7
15 years ago
I suppose nothing is impossible, but I have to think it would be quite a chore to make an ericaceous tree thrive over the long term in the typically alkaline soils of the intermountain west.
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Dan _Staley (5b Sunset 2B AHS 7)
15 years ago
Agreed with above. Our soil chemistry here is similar and I wouldn't plant it here.

Dan
mbuckmaster
15 years ago
Oxydendrum doesn't necessarily need acid soil, and will grow in alkaline soil. However, it is true that it's happier in the more typical slightly acidic soil of the eastern woodland edge. But it's such a nice tree it may be worth a shot anyway, especially if you're sure of your pH. Mine's doing fine so far in soil with a 7.8 pH.
angbarnes17
Original Author
15 years ago
I'm not sure what our pH is. I just saw the Sourwood on NatureHills.com for $16 so I was gonna try it. I really like the tree, just wish it wasn't slow growing. How much does yours grow each year?
marymd7
15 years ago
Have to disagree about oxydendron not "necessarily" needing acidic soil. Yes, they do need acid soil, and denied it, will express their displeasure with sickly chlorosis immediately.
mbuckmaster
15 years ago
No chlorosis on mine yet, mary. I suppose I could have had an inaccurate soil test, though. For the record, it is true that the literature I've read says it prefers acid soil...it's just that mine seems to be doing fine without it.

It grows very slowly, angbarnes...slower than a government funded highway resurfacing project. But it's worth the wait.
kman04
15 years ago
I've found they demand an acidic soil and will slowly decline without it. My soil is naturally of a pH of about 5.5 to 6.2 and Sourwood Trees die in it over a period of about 3 years with signs typical of chlorosis before they die. They also seem to loathe the clay soils here in Eastern Kansas and can't take our normal summer droughts even when established. Even if you either have sandstone derived soils or heavily amend a large area and water them regularly to make them happy here, they seem to top out at about 10'(3m) tall or so if you're lucky. So, they never come close to the size and beauty they have out East and I can't imagine them doing much better in Utah than they do here in Kansas.
Dan _Staley (5b Sunset 2B AHS 7)
15 years ago
My soil is naturally of a pH of about 5.5 to 6.2

This is an acid soil. Do you mean more acid than 5.5?

Regardless, UT soils are generally alkaline. Ours here are similar and there are zero arborists I know who would plant that tree here.

Dan
gandle
15 years ago
Well, they sure won't grow in western Nebraska, I've tried. Immediate chlorosis and quick death.
bengz6westmd
15 years ago
Sourwood barely grows here in good bottomland soil. Prb'ly not well-drained enough. Vinegar added to supplimental water can help keep them from getting chlorotic.
kman04
14 years ago
This is an acid soil. Do you mean more acid than 5.5?

Yes, I should of clarified, highly acidic soil is what they seem to demand.

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