Trees Planet: Sorbus decora - Showy Mountain-Ash

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.