Oxydendrum arboreum
(L,) DC.
Ericaceae
Andromeda arborea L.
Lyonia arborea (L.) D.Don
Common Name: Sorrel Tree
General Information
Oxydendrum arboreum is a deciduous tree that is sometimes more or less shrubby and less than 6 metres tall, though most commonly grows around 6 - 15 metres tall, and in ideal conditions can reach 20.metres or more. The slender trunk is generally around 20 - 30cm in diameter, occasionally reaching 60cm. The crown is small when growing in deep shade, but is usually made up of several stout ascending limbs in the open[
11- Title
- Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bean. W.
- Publisher
- Murray
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
,
379- Title
- Silvics of North America. Agricultural Handbook No. 654.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burns. R.M. & Honkala. B.H.
- Website
- http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/table_of_contents.htm
- Publisher
- USDA Forest Service; Washington DC.
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A very comprehensice guide to about 200 species of timber trees of N. America, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Mainly temperate species, plus a number of tropical species. It is downloadable from the Internet.
]
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental, valued especiallyfor its brilliant leaf colour in the autumn and its late summer flowering[
379- Title
- Silvics of North America. Agricultural Handbook No. 654.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burns. R.M. & Honkala. B.H.
- Website
- http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/table_of_contents.htm
- Publisher
- USDA Forest Service; Washington DC.
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A very comprehensice guide to about 200 species of timber trees of N. America, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Mainly temperate species, plus a number of tropical species. It is downloadable from the Internet.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
11- Title
- Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bean. W.
- Publisher
- Murray
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
,
43- Title
- Gray's Manual of Botany.Eighth Edition
- Publication
-
- Author
- Fernald. M. L.
- Publisher
- American Book Co.; New York
- Year
- 1950
- ISBN
- 0442222505
- Description
- A bit dated but a good and concise flora of the eastern part of N. America.
,
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Range
Eastern N. America - Indiana to New York, south to Louisiana and Florida
Habitat
Usually found as an understorey tree in well-drained gravelly soils on ridges rising above the banks of streams[
82- Title
- Manual of the Trees of N. America.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Sargent. C. S.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
- Publisher
- Dover Publications Inc. New York.
- Year
- 1965
- ISBN
- 0-486-20278-X
- Description
- Two volumes, a comprehensive listing of N. American trees though a bit out of date now. Good details on habitats, some details on plant uses. Not really for the casual reader. It can be downloaded from the internet.
].
Properties
Edibility Rating | |
Medicinal Rating | |
Other Uses Rating | |
Habit | Deciduous Tree |
Height | 10.00 m |
Growth Rate | Slow |
Pollinators | Bees, Insects |
Cultivation Status | Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Oxydendrum arboreum is native to the temperate regions of eastern and southern USA. It is found in regions where the mean annual rainfall is distributed throughout the year and can range from as low as 1,020mm in the north of its range to 2,030mm in mountainous regions - winter precipitation can often fall as snow. Winter temperatures can fall as low as -20°c, with summer highs up to 40°c. The growing season can range from 150 - 300 days[
379- Title
- Silvics of North America. Agricultural Handbook No. 654.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burns. R.M. & Honkala. B.H.
- Website
- http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/table_of_contents.htm
- Publisher
- USDA Forest Service; Washington DC.
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A very comprehensice guide to about 200 species of timber trees of N. America, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Mainly temperate species, plus a number of tropical species. It is downloadable from the Internet.
].
Requires a moist well-drained lime-free soil[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Prefers a pH in the range of 4 to 6[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Succeeds in light dappled shade or in full sun[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
], it appreciates the protection of other tall shrubs and trees[
1- Title
- RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
- Publication
-
- Author
- F. Chittendon.
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Year
- 1951
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
,
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Plants can succeed in deep shade in native woodland[
379- Title
- Silvics of North America. Agricultural Handbook No. 654.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burns. R.M. & Honkala. B.H.
- Website
- http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/table_of_contents.htm
- Publisher
- USDA Forest Service; Washington DC.
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A very comprehensice guide to about 200 species of timber trees of N. America, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Mainly temperate species, plus a number of tropical species. It is downloadable from the Internet.
].
A very ornamental plant[
1- Title
- RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
- Publication
-
- Author
- F. Chittendon.
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Year
- 1951
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
], it is rather slow growing, especially when growing at the limits of its hardiness[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Plants can flower in 4 - 5 years from seed. The flowers are sweetly scented[
245- Title
- Scented Flora of the World.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Genders. R.
- Publisher
- Robert Hale. London.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
- 0-7090-5440-8
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.
].
Transplant with care, plants may take some time to re-establish themselves[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
The trees usually respond vigorously to coppicing[
379- Title
- Silvics of North America. Agricultural Handbook No. 654.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burns. R.M. & Honkala. B.H.
- Website
- http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/table_of_contents.htm
- Publisher
- USDA Forest Service; Washington DC.
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A very comprehensice guide to about 200 species of timber trees of N. America, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Mainly temperate species, plus a number of tropical species. It is downloadable from the Internet.
].
The flowers are very attractive to bees[
49- Title
- Shrubs for the Milder Counties.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Arnold-Forster.
- Publisher
-
- Year
-
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Trees and shrubs that grow well in Cornwall and other mild areas of Britain. Fairly good, a standard reference book.
,
229- Title
- The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Elias. T.
- Publisher
- Van Nostrand Reinhold Co.
- Year
- 1980
- ISBN
- 0442238622
- Description
- A very good concise guide. Gives habitats, good descriptions, maps showing distribution and a few of the uses. It also includes the many shrubs that occasionally reach tree proportions.
].
Edible Uses
Leaves - raw[
11- Title
- Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bean. W.
- Publisher
- Murray
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
,
105- Title
- Tanaka's Cyclopedia of Edible Plants of the World.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Tanaka. T. & Nakao S.
- Publisher
- Keigaku Publishing; Tokyo
- Year
- 1976
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- The most comprehensive list of edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.
,
161- Title
- Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Yanovsky. E.
- Publisher
- U.S. Depf of Agriculture.
- Year
-
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A comprehensive but very terse guide. Not for the casual reader.
]. A pleasant acid flavour[
82- Title
- Manual of the Trees of N. America.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Sargent. C. S.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
- Publisher
- Dover Publications Inc. New York.
- Year
- 1965
- ISBN
- 0-486-20278-X
- Description
- Two volumes, a comprehensive listing of N. American trees though a bit out of date now. Good details on habitats, some details on plant uses. Not really for the casual reader. It can be downloaded from the internet.
]. They allay thirst[
61- Title
- A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Usher. G.
- Publisher
- Constable
- Year
- 1974
- ISBN
- 0094579202
- Description
- Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.
].
Medicinal
The leaves are cardiac, diuretic, refrigerant and tonic[
61- Title
- A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Usher. G.
- Publisher
- Constable
- Year
- 1974
- ISBN
- 0094579202
- Description
- Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.
,
82- Title
- Manual of the Trees of N. America.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Sargent. C. S.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
- Publisher
- Dover Publications Inc. New York.
- Year
- 1965
- ISBN
- 0-486-20278-X
- Description
- Two volumes, a comprehensive listing of N. American trees though a bit out of date now. Good details on habitats, some details on plant uses. Not really for the casual reader. It can be downloaded from the internet.
]. A tea made from the leaves has been used in the treatment of asthma, diarrhoea, indigestion and to check excessive menstrual bleeding[
222- Title
- A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Foster. S. & Duke. J. A.
- Publisher
- Houghton Mifflin Co.
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0395467225
- Description
- A concise book dealing with almost 500 species. A line drawing of each plant is included plus colour photographs of about 100 species. Very good as a field guide, it only gives brief details about the plants medicinal properties.
,
257- Title
- Native American Ethnobotany
- Publication
-
- Author
- Moerman. D.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-88192-453-9
- Description
- Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
]. It is diuretic and is used as a cooling drin and a folk remedy for treating fevers, kidney and bladder ailments[
82- Title
- Manual of the Trees of N. America.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Sargent. C. S.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
- Publisher
- Dover Publications Inc. New York.
- Year
- 1965
- ISBN
- 0-486-20278-X
- Description
- Two volumes, a comprehensive listing of N. American trees though a bit out of date now. Good details on habitats, some details on plant uses. Not really for the casual reader. It can be downloaded from the internet.
,
222- Title
- A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Foster. S. & Duke. J. A.
- Publisher
- Houghton Mifflin Co.
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0395467225
- Description
- A concise book dealing with almost 500 species. A line drawing of each plant is included plus colour photographs of about 100 species. Very good as a field guide, it only gives brief details about the plants medicinal properties.
,
876- Title
- The American Woods (in 14 volumes)
- Publication
-
- Author
- Hough R.B.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Romeyn B. Hough Co.; New York
- Year
- 1888 - 1928
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Detailed information, with photographs, of the woods of almost 400 species of American trees. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The bark has been chewed in the treatment of mouth ulcers[
222- Title
- A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Foster. S. & Duke. J. A.
- Publisher
- Houghton Mifflin Co.
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0395467225
- Description
- A concise book dealing with almost 500 species. A line drawing of each plant is included plus colour photographs of about 100 species. Very good as a field guide, it only gives brief details about the plants medicinal properties.
,
257- Title
- Native American Ethnobotany
- Publication
-
- Author
- Moerman. D.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-88192-453-9
- Description
- Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
].
Agroforestry Uses:
The flowers are a good source of nectar for bees[
379- Title
- Silvics of North America. Agricultural Handbook No. 654.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burns. R.M. & Honkala. B.H.
- Website
- http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/table_of_contents.htm
- Publisher
- USDA Forest Service; Washington DC.
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A very comprehensice guide to about 200 species of timber trees of N. America, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Mainly temperate species, plus a number of tropical species. It is downloadable from the Internet.
].
Other Uses
The heartwood is reddish-brown; the thick layer of sapwood is brownish-white. The wood is very close-grained, moderately heavy, hard, strong and compact. It weighs 46lb per cubic foot. An attractive wood that takes a beautiful polish, though it is usually only available in small dimensions and so not important commercially. It is sometimes used for panelling, tool handles, small articles of wooden-ware, bearings etc[
82- Title
- Manual of the Trees of N. America.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Sargent. C. S.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
- Publisher
- Dover Publications Inc. New York.
- Year
- 1965
- ISBN
- 0-486-20278-X
- Description
- Two volumes, a comprehensive listing of N. American trees though a bit out of date now. Good details on habitats, some details on plant uses. Not really for the casual reader. It can be downloaded from the internet.
,
229- Title
- The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Elias. T.
- Publisher
- Van Nostrand Reinhold Co.
- Year
- 1980
- ISBN
- 0442238622
- Description
- A very good concise guide. Gives habitats, good descriptions, maps showing distribution and a few of the uses. It also includes the many shrubs that occasionally reach tree proportions.
,
235- Title
- An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada
- Publication
-
- Author
- Britton. N. L. Brown. A.
- Publisher
- Dover Publications. New York.
- Year
- 1970
- ISBN
- 0-486-22642-5
- Description
- Reprint of a 1913 Flora, but still a very useful book.
,
638- Title
- The Woods of the United States
- Publication
-
- Author
- Sargent C.S.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- D. Appleton & Co.; New York
- Year
- 1885
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains information on the woods of a large number of N. American species of trees and shrubs. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
,
876- Title
- The American Woods (in 14 volumes)
- Publication
-
- Author
- Hough R.B.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Romeyn B. Hough Co.; New York
- Year
- 1888 - 1928
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Detailed information, with photographs, of the woods of almost 400 species of American trees. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Propagation
Surface sow the seed[
113- Title
- The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W.
- Publisher
- Athens Ga. Varsity Press
- Year
- 1987
- ISBN
- 0942375009
- Description
- A very detailed book on propagating trees. Not for the casual reader.
] in a shady place in a greenhouse either as soon as it is ripe in the autumn[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
] or in late winter[
78- Title
- Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Sheat. W. G.
- Publisher
- MacMillan and Co
- Year
- 1948
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.
]. Germination is variable[
78- Title
- Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Sheat. W. G.
- Publisher
- MacMillan and Co
- Year
- 1948
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.
]. Put outside in a shady position as soon as it germinates and overwinter in a frame[
78- Title
- Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Sheat. W. G.
- Publisher
- MacMillan and Co
- Year
- 1948
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.
]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. The seedlings are susceptible to damping off and so should be kept well-ventilated and should not be over-watered.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, mid summer in a frame[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Very difficult to root, even with rooting hormones[
379- Title
- Silvics of North America. Agricultural Handbook No. 654.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burns. R.M. & Honkala. B.H.
- Website
- http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/table_of_contents.htm
- Publisher
- USDA Forest Service; Washington DC.
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A very comprehensice guide to about 200 species of timber trees of N. America, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Mainly temperate species, plus a number of tropical species. It is downloadable from the Internet.
].
Layering.
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