I was hunting over Thanksgiving weekend. It's a very hilly area. I end up on the very top of the hill where there's a decent size flat area and find these "blocky" trees that are tall and still have good fall color (everything else except some Beech are bare). Turns out they're Sourwood and they're pretty good size trees. I think I've only seen a handful of these between my place and my parents (where I was hunting). The bark looks like persimmon on steroids. Anyone else come across these and find them interesting over everything else in the woods?
Yes, they have incredible fall, interesting flowers and the bees love them. Sourwood Honey! Big ones like that are rare. That’s a beauty. I have some sourwood in my stacks.
We have a lot of Sourwood in central NC. Easily recognized for their crooked growth and deep furrowed bark. They are prone to hollow and my grand dad would make rabbit boxes out of them. I've always admired the Sourwood.
Are you sure thats not a sassafras? Bark looks like it as does the typical orange color when its scraped.
If I zoom in on the leaves I can verify Sourwood and it’s got the leftover structures of the flowers.
I didnt even think to look at the leaf remnants. Only have seen a sourwood once that FHC verified last Summer. Mystree #2
