Sorbus aucuparia (European Mountain Ash)

Sorbus aucuparia (European Mountain Ash) is an upright deciduous tree of erect and oval habit in youth, usually rounding and opening with age. The elegant foliage of pinnate, uniformly serrated, dark green leaves, 2.5 in. long (6 cm), turns yellow, red, and reddish purple in the fall, before falling to the ground, revealing the smooth, shiny, gray-brown bark becoming slightly roughened with age. In late spring, a profusion of tiny white flowers held in flat-topped clusters are produced. They are quickly followed by abundant clusters of showy, bright orange-red berries in late summer. The berries provide a welcoming feast for various types of weary, migrating birds and seldom last very long. Attractive in form, elegant in flower, and colorful in fruit and foliage, Sorbus aucuparia stars in almost every season of the year.

• Grows up to 20-40 ft. in height (6-12 m) and 8-20 ft. in spread (2-6 m).
• A full sun lover, this tree is easily grown in acidic, moist, well-drained soils.
• Propagate by seed, softwood cuttings, or grafting
• No routine pruning is necessary. Remove diseased, damaged, congested, or crossing shoots.
• Keep an eye out for aphids, blister mites, sawflies, silver leaf, honey fungus, and fireblight.
• Native to Europe, Western Asia, and Siberia.
• Find where this species is invasive in the United States.
• Discover beautiful U.S. native plant alternatives.