Sorbus aucuparia: European Mountain-Ash: ENH-757/ST599, 2/2014

Abstract

European Mountain-Ash has a rapid growth rate at first but slows down with age, ultimately forming a 30-foot-tall, dense oval. The white flowers are somewhat showy, appearing in the spring after the leaves. The tree shows its true colors when the fruit is set in mid-summer. The wonderfully-showy, orange-red fruit is borne in heavy clusters of about 40 berries although cultivars are available with pink, yellow and red fruits. Fruits are usually eaten by birds and often don't persist on the tree into the winter. Seeds germinate quite readily in the landscape. The fall color is red to yellow, although sometimes leaves simply drop green. Original publication date November 1993.