Sorbus decora - Showy Mountain-Ash - Dogberry

General Information Common Name  Showy Mountain-ash, Dogberry Scientific Name  Sorbus decora Sun Tolerance  Full Sun Height  8 - 10 m (26-30 ft) Spread  6 -8 m (20 - 30 ft) Growth Rate  Fast Bloom Time  Spring Color  Green, Flower Color  White Type  Tree Native  USA, Asia, Europe.

Classification Kingdom  Plantae – Plants Subkingdom  Tracheobionta – Vascular plants Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants Division  Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants Class  Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons Subclass  Rosidae Order  Rosales Family  Rosaceae – Rose family Genus  Sorbus L. – Mountain Ash Species  S. decora

Sorbus decora - Showy Mountain-Ash - Dogberry

Sorbus decora, commonly known as the Showy Mountain-ash also known as Dogberry. It is native to northeastern North America. It occurs throughout the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Mixedwood forest region, the New England-Acadian forest region, and the eastern Canadian boreal forests. It is a deciduous shrub or very small tree and the bark of an adult plant is thin and smooth

Showy Mountain-ash is very similar to the closely related American Mountain-ash. It grows up to 10 m (33 ft) in height and spread up to 8 m (26 ft). Like the American Mountain-ash (Sorbus americana), the Showy Mountain-ash has pinnately compound leaves and often large clusters of flowers and fruits. However, a useful distinguishing feature of this species is its shiny, sticky buds. The leaves are green above, paler beneath, 10–20 cm long and 6-12 board. The leaf blade is compound (made up of two or more discrete leaflets). There is one leaf per node along the stem, and the edge of the leaf blade has teeth. The color of the leaves change to red in autumn. It blooms white flowers in late spring to early summer. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects. The fruits color are red or orange. It is a pome 7–8 mm diameter, maturing in late autumn. 

It is often cultivated as an ornamental plant for its cold-hardiness, its attractive flowers, and its large clusters of small red berry-like pomes. The fruits are an important source of food for wildlife, particularly birds in the winter and early spring.

Sorbus decora - Showy Mountain-Ash in Autumn

Leaves of Showy Mountain-Ash 

Sorbus decora - Showy Mountain-Ash Leaves

Flowers of Showy Mountain-Ash 

Sorbus decora Flowers

Sorbus decora - Showy Mountain-Ash Flowers

Fruits of Showy Mountain-Ash

Sorbus decora - Showy Mountain-Ash Fruits

Autumn color of Showy Mountain-Ash

Sorbus decora - Showy Mountain-Ash in Autumn

Bark of Showy Mountain-Ash