Virginia Tech Dendrology

American mountain-ash Rosaceae Sorbus americana Marshall symbol: SOAM3
Leaf: Alternate, pinnately compound, 6 to 10 inches long, 11 to 17 lance-shaped, serrated leaflets, 2 to 2 1/2 inches long, often arching, 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 red, small (1/4 to 3/8 inch in diameter) pomes, showy, ripening in fall, persistent.
Twig: Moderate to stout, shiny gray to reddish brown, spur shoot present, leaf scars narrow, buds 3/8 to 1/2 inch long, dark purplish red and sticky.
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 but usually shorter, crown is initially narrow, but becoming wider with age.
Looks like: showy mountain-ash - European mountain-ash - green ash

Additional Range Information: Sorbus americana is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
More Information: Fall Color
External Links: USDAFS FEIS Silvics - USDA Plants Database
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