Virginia Tech Dendrology

showy mountain-ash Rosaceae Sorbus decora (Sarg.) C.K. Schneid. Listen to the Latin symbol: SODE3
Leaf: Alternate, pinnately compound, 5 to 10 inches long, usually 15 leaflets each 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches long, serrated, lay flat, dark green above, paler below.
Flower: Showy, dense cluster of small, white flowers, clusters 3 to 5 inches across, appearing in early summer.
Fruit: Cluster of small orange-red pomes each 3/8 to 1/2 inch across, very showy, ripening in late summer, persistent.
Twig: Moderately stout, shiny reddish brown; buds 3/8 to 1/2 inch long, dark purplish red and sticky.
Bark: Smooth and gray-brown with numerous lenticels when young, developing cracks, splits, and scaly patches with age.
Form: A large shrub to small tree up to 35 feet tall, crown spreads and opens with age.
 Looks like: American mountain-ash - European mountain-ash - green ash
leaf fruit twig bark form1 map
Additional Range Information: Sorbus decora is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. See the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDA Plants Database
All material © 2019 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information