Eastern Forest Threat Center - European Mountain Ash

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European mountain ash with flowers

European mountain ash with flowers

Richard Webb, Bugwood.org

European Mountain Ash
Sorbus aucuparia

European mountain ash is native to most of Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia. It has escaped ornamental plantings.

Keywords: Rosaceae, deciduous, tree, short trunk, lenticels, serrated leaflets, showy flower clusters, orange-red fruits, urban areas; Common names: rowan

Distribution Map Distribution Source Image

Threat Description

European mountain ash is a deciduous tree in the rose family that reaches heights of 25-30 ft. and widths of 15-25 ft. The main trunk is often short, becoming multi-branched. Bark is light grayish brown and generally smooth with numerous lenticels when young. Leaves are alternate, pinnately compound, and 5-9 in. long. Individual leaflets are serrated on their upper halves and dull dark green above and paler green below. In fall, leaf color is red to yellow, although sometimes leaves simply drop green. Showy clusters of small white flowers appear in late spring to early summer. Small, orange-red fruits are born in terminal clusters that ripen in fall. Fruits are usually eaten by birds and often do not persist on the tree into the winter. Seeds germinate quite readily in the landscape. Thousands of seeds are produced per plant per year and can remain viable in the soil for five years or more. European mountain ash favors cool to cold climates, full sun, and well-drained, loamy acidic soils. Trees can grow in urban areas where air pollution, poor drainage, compacted soil, and/or drought are common. It is able to invade, integrate, and dominate plant communities.