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Sourwood identification: leaves, bark, fruit and twigs
Sourwood, Oxydendrum arboreum, is a native tree in Pennsylvania. How to recognize it by its leaves, bark, fruit and twigs, and how to tell it from look-alikes.
Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges. Leaves 4 to 7 inches long with very fine teeth; chew one and it tastes sour. Bark: Thick grayish brown bark with deep furrows and ridges that break into rectangles. Checked Nov. 14, 2026.
How to identify sourwood
| Leaf type | Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges |
|---|---|
| Leaves | Leaves 4 to 7 inches long with very fine teeth; chew one and it tastes sour. |
| Bark | Thick grayish brown bark with deep furrows and ridges that break into rectangles. |
| Fruit | Small dry five-part capsules on drooping sprays, ripe in fall. |
| Twigs | Olive green twigs turning red, with tiny buds. |
| Size and shape | Small tree up to about 60 feet, usually crooked; drooping sprays of small white bell-shaped flowers. |
From the Virginia Tech Dendrology fact sheet, in our own words.
Is sourwood native to Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP) lists sourwood as native to Pennsylvania.
See all 140 trees, with a 4-question identifier, in our Pennsylvania tree identification guide.
Trees that look like sourwood
| Tree | Its leaves |
|---|---|
| Black gum Nyssa sylvatica | Alternate, simple leaves with smooth edges. Glossy smooth-edged leaves 3 to 5 inches long, widest near the tip, sometimes with a few coarse teeth or shallow lobes near the end. |
| Downy serviceberry Amelanchier arborea | Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges. Oval leaves 1 1/2 to 3 inches long with fine teeth, often fuzzy underneath when young. |
| Black cherry Prunus serotina | Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges. Glossy, finely toothed leaves 2 to 5 inches long, usually with a line of yellowish-brown fuzz along the underside of the midrib. |
| Common persimmon Diospyros virginiana | Alternate, simple leaves with smooth edges. Glossy, smooth-edged oval leaves 2 1/2 to 5 inches long, paler underneath. |
Compare the leaves first, then the bark, fruit and twigs on each tree’s page.
Questions
How do you identify sourwood?
Look for alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges. Leaves 4 to 7 inches long with very fine teeth; chew one and it tastes sour. Bark: Thick grayish brown bark with deep furrows and ridges that break into rectangles.
Is sourwood native to Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP) lists sourwood as native to Pennsylvania.
How big does sourwood get?
Small tree up to about 60 feet, usually crooked; drooping sprays of small white bell-shaped flowers.
How can you tell sourwood in winter?
Check the twigs and bark. Twigs: Olive green twigs turning red, with tiny buds. Bark: Thick grayish brown bark with deep furrows and ridges that break into rectangles.
What tree looks like sourwood?
Black gum, Downy serviceberry, Black cherry, Common persimmon. Compare the leaves first.
Sources: Virginia Tech Dendrology (Oxydendrum arboreum fact sheet); Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program, PA Vascular Plant List (native or introduced status). Checked Nov. 14, 2026.
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