Virginia Tech Dendrology

European mountain-ash Rosaceae Sorbus aucuparia L. symbol: SOAU
Leaf: Alternate, pinnately compound, 5 to 8 inches long, individual leaflets are serrated on their upper halves, 1 to 1 1/2 inches long, dull dark green above paler below.
Flower: Showy clusters of small white flowers, clusters 3 to 5 inches across, appearing in late spring to early summer.
Fruit: Clusters of bright deep orange small (3/8 inch in diameter) pomes, very showy, ripening in fall, persistent.
Twig: Moderate to stout, pubescent early, becoming shiny gray-brown later in season, spur shoot present, leaf scars narrow, buds 3/8 to 1/2 inch long, reddish brown with long gray pubescences.
Bark: When young, smooth with numerous lenticels, grayish brown, developing cracks, splits and scaly patches with age.
Form: A small tree up to 40 feet tall, crown is initially elliptical but becoming wider with age.
Looks like: American mountain-ash - Sitka mountain-ash - green ash

Additional Range Information: Sorbus aucuparia is planted in the USDA hardiness zones shown above and may seed into the landscape. Download the full-size PDF map.
More Information: Fall Color
External Links: USDA Plants Database - Horticulture Information
All material 2021 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