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| My theory is it wants more water.
Tree was planted this spring along with a serviceberry. The serviceberry looks great, the sourwood is beginning to flower but has this orange tint. Was in a 3 gallon ish pot.
Pics:
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Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Sat, May 12, 12 at 18:12
| cold damage and transplant shock and maybe even some sunburn ..... ignore it... but keep it properly watered ... ken |
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- Posted by akamainegrower none (My Page) on Sun, May 13, 12 at 15:53
| The tree appears to be suffering from more than lack of water. In fact, it very likely will suffer further harm from additional water. Healthy oxydendrum leaves are a deep, glossy green. I do not think it's about to bloom, either. In Z6, mid July or so would be normal bloom time. The photo seems to show dried out seed pods from last year's flowers, not buds about to open. Sourwoods need conditions which would make a rhododendron happy: acid pH soil with at least 25% to 50% coarse organic matter that provides excellent drainage and lots of oxygen. In short, pretty much the opposite of clay. You'd be better off replanting the tree in a raised area of suitable soil than in clay which provides neither the airspace nor organic content required. This is also a pretty sizable tree to have come out of a 3 gallon pot, so it's possible that it is severely root bound. Again like a rhododendron, encircling and massed roots need to be cut or teased apart so they can grow outward.
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- Posted by gardengal48 PNW zone 8 (My Page) on Sun, May 13, 12 at 17:38
| Early growth of sourwood foliage often has a bronze or orange cast to it. Even more so if it has been confined to a small nursery container or any other stressor. I'd not be overly concerned about it - this tree is remarkably adaptable to a variety of soil conditions provided drainage is good. Clay should not be much of an impediment :-) As Ken states, just make sure it gets sufficient water during its first season. And I did see some new flower buds in amongst the old seedheads....flowers are coming but not for awhile! |
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| That sourwood looks...Normal! That's a great specimen. I've planted a couple of them a year for the last 3 years straight. I can't say if more mature sourwoods lose the Spring bronze tint on the new leaves but I can say for sure recently planted ones do have that feature...Pieris do the same thing. Btw- Sourwoods grow in clay, sand, or really good organic soil. They don't care as long as the soil is acidic. |
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- Posted by formandfoliage 9b (Sunset zone 15) (My Page) on Sun, May 20, 12 at 23:51
| Mine have bronzy leaves...still small as early in the season. Not sure if our climates are so different that experience translates...but yours, as mine, have leaves that have good tone/gloss. I think that the color is normal for young leaves. |
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| I was driving along the highway this weekend and noticed a whole expanse of little sourwoods with a very similar reddish tinge to the leaves. |
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- Posted by toronado3800 Z6 St. Louis (My Page) on Mon, May 21, 12 at 3:14
| interesting and thanks for the info. If this goes on every year it is going to be one colorful tree. Lots of spring red in the yard. BTW, been a dry week, watered once. Maybe, maybe the newer foliage is a little more green. |
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