Chinese Rowan

A lovely tree with outstanding autumn colour, Sorbus discolor is a small, moderately vigorous, deciduous tree with ascending branches and an open, ovoid crown. The leaves are divided into 11-17 serrated leaflets and are deep green, bluish-green on the underside, turning fiery red and orange in autumn. Loose, pink-tinged white flowerheads, umbels 4”/10cm wide, appear in May and are followed in late summer by clusters of creamy-yellow berries on red stalks, contrasting well with the autumn foliage. Chinese Rowan is a low-maintenance tree that needs minimal pruning, and the berries are good for hungry birds. A good choice for the smaller garden

Site: Tolerates exposure and urban pollution
Soil: Well drained, slightly acid soil
Position: Partial shade
Season of Interest: Late spring to autumn
Hardiness: Fully hardy
Height: 20-26’ (6-8m) Spread: 13-23’ (4-7m)

Photo by Allan Harris, cropped, and licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0.