Sourwood. One of our finest, medium-sized native trees, which performs its best in an understory situation. It produces terminal, hanging racemes of lily-of-the-valley, white, fragrant flowers in the early summer gives it a charm that is second to none. Brilliant red fall color definitely makes it one of the better "fall color" plants. It rarely takes on a symmetrical formal appearance, but rather has a mildly contorted, picturesque one-sided shape. Native to eastern North America. My grandfather used to say that there was not better honey than that made from the Sourwood blossoms.
Zones 5-9
