Scientific Name:
Sorbus aria
Pronunciation:
SORE-bus AR-ee-a
Common Name:
common whitebeam
Family Name:
Rosaceae
Plant Type:
Tree - deciduous
Key ID Features:
Rounded small tree; leaves simple, broadly elliptic, toothed, hairy, grey-green; flowers creamy-white; fruit orange-red, clustered. Winter ID: twigs reddish brown with grey pubescence; no terminal buds; lateral buds ovoid, most 6-9mm long with about 7 spiralled, imbricate scales; leaf scares mostly crescent shapes with 3 bundle scars.
Habit:
Upright
Form:
Round
Texture:
Medium
Mature Height:
10 - 15m
Mature Spread:
7 - 10m
Growth Rate:
Moderate
Origin:
Canada - eastern, U.S. - northeast
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 5: (-29 to -23 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun
Soil/Growing Medium:
Rocky or gravelly or dry
Water Use:
Wetlands
Landscape Uses:
Attract birds, Screening, Shade tree, Wildlife food, Woodland margin
Additional Info:
Google. Cultivars shown may include S. 'Aurea' (yellow-green leaves), and S. 'lutescens' (compact habit and grey-green leaves).
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Alternate
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible, Pinnate venation
Surfaces:
Pubescent
Colour in Summer:
Green, Silver / Grayish, Fall colour is yellow or red.
Colour in Fall:
Yellow, Brown
Shapes:
Lanceolate
Apices:
Rounded
Bases:
Cuneate
Margins:
Serrate
Inflorescence Type:
Cyme, Floriferous
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
5
Corolla Shape:
Rotate/stellate
Ovary Position:
Inferior
Colour (petals):
Showy, White
Flower Scent:
Unpleasant
Flower Time at Peak:
Apr, May
Fruit Type:
Pome
Fruit Colour:
Orange, Red
Fruiting Time:
Aug
Additional Info:
Showy,
Bark Morphology:
Prominent lenticels
Bark or Stem Colour:
Grey
Leaf Bud Type:
Valvate
Leaf Scar Shape:
Crescent shaped
Organ Modifications:
Stipule, leafy
Propagation:
Seed
Pest Susceptibility:
Mites (Disease resistant)
