Sourwood is a deciduous, small to medium tree in the blueberry family (Ericaceae). It is native to the eastern and southern United States, from Pennsylvania to northern Florida and west to Ohio and Louisiana. It can be found throughout North Carolina, although more rarely in the low, alluvial plain.
Sourwood trees are usually pyramidal or narrow oval in shape, with a straight trunk. They can grow to be 25–35 feet tall, but can reach 50–60 feet tall in the wild.
Leaves
Sourwood leaves are dark green, glossy, and oblong, and can be 5–8 inches long. They have a sour taste, which is how the tree got its name. In the fall, the leaves turn a brilliant red color.
Flowers
Sourwood flowers are small, white, and urn-shaped, and bloom in mid-July. They grow in clusters that are 8–10 inches long, and have a slight fragrance.