Green (Leaves emerge bright green in the spring and mature to a glossy, dark green in the summer); Multi-Colored (Attractive gold, yellow, and orange fall foliage)

Fruit Notes:

Red (Clusters of round, darkly lenticelled pomes (each 0.5" dia.) in a range of beautiful reds in the fall; persistent)

Ultimate Height:

40-50 feet

Ultimate Spread:

20-30 feet

Light Requirements:

Soil Notes:

Prefers moist, well-drained, acidic soils

Range:

Central China to Korea and Japan

Diagnostic Characteristics:

The leaves (2-4" long by 0.75-1.5" wide) of Sorbus alnifolia to not resemble those of the other Mountainashes and are alternate, simple (most Sorbus are compound), ovate, glossy, and irregularly serrated with a short acuminate tip and 6-10 regular pairs of straight veins. Stems are heavily lenticelled with the lenticels becoming diamond-shaped with age.

Special Characteristics:

Fall Color 206

Shade Tree 170

Specimen 598

Additional Information

Sorbus alnifolia is an attractive small, dense tree that produces beautiful clusters of white flowers in the spring. In the wild, this plant lives in cooler, mountain climates and is not well-adapted to USDA zone 8 and south. Intolerant of city conditions. Tends to flowers heavier every other year. Susceptible to fireblight and scab, but resistant to borers that frequently attack other Sorbus. Although this plant is commonly referred to as a "mountainash", it is not a true ash (Fraxinus), or even in the ash family (Oleaceae).