Showy Mountain Ash
The Showy Mountain Ash features showy white spring flowers, pinnately compound leaves and striking red fall fruit. The berries often remain on the tree after the leaves fall, which provides a pleasant winter appearance. The tree is excellent at attracting birds to any yard. The leaves are dark green and transition to orange / red in the fall. Bark is typically smooth and grey, becoming scaly as the tree matures. The tree is slow growing and compact, making it a perfect addition to smaller sites. The tree can be planted as an accent or shade tree.
Common Name |
Showy Mountain Ash |
---|---|
Latin Name |
Sorbus decora |
Form |
Oval |
Life Span |
50+ |
Growth Rate |
Slow |
Mature Height |
7.5m |
Mature Spread |
5.5m |
Flower Colour |
White |
Fragrance |
Lightly fragrant |
Fall Colour |
orange |
Soil Preference |
Widely adaptable |
Exposure Preference |
Full sun ,Partial shade |
Cold Hardiness Zone |
Zone 2 |
Special Attributes and Considerations |
The fruit of a Showy Mountain Ash attract hungry birds and animals, but are too bitter / acidic to be eaten fresh off the tree. They can however, be made into jellies! |
Folk Lore |
Contrary to its common name, it is not an Ash at all, but rather it is from the rose family. This tree is fondly know as a rowan tree in England. ,The botanical name quite literally means (showy fruit) in latin |
Available Sizes |
40mm |
Common Name |
Showy Mountain Ash |
---|---|
Latin Name |
Sorbus decora |
Form |
Oval |
Life Span |
50+ |
Growth Rate |
Slow |
Mature Height |
7.5m |
Mature Spread |
5.5m |
Flower Colour |
White |
Fragrance |
Lightly fragrant |
Fall Colour |
orange |
Soil Preference |
Widely adaptable |
Exposure Preference |
Full sun ,Partial shade |
Cold Hardiness Zone |
Zone 2 |
Special Attributes and Considerations |
The fruit of a Showy Mountain Ash attract hungry birds and animals, but are too bitter / acidic to be eaten fresh off the tree. They can however, be made into jellies! |
Folk Lore |
Contrary to its common name, it is not an Ash at all, but rather it is from the rose family. This tree is fondly know as a rowan tree in England. ,The botanical name quite literally means (showy fruit) in latin |
Available Sizes |
40mm |
Related products
Black Walnut
Black Walnut Trees are a relatively rare tree for Southern Alberta but they have long been successfully grown in Medicine Hat. They make excellent shade trees and offer a splendid dappled shade with their loose open canopy. As a delicious autumn treat they produce large bounties of rich tasting nuts. They are low maintenance and exceptionally pest and disease resilient. They produce a brilliant fall show of bright yellow leaves. All and all we can not say enough good things about the Black Walnut tree as a consideration for anyones yard with appropriate space.
Dropmore Linden
The Dropmore Linden is hybrid between the native American Linden and the European Little Leaf Linden. This breeding resulted in a regal tree fit to grow in the most discerning grounds. The tree grows with a strong central leader and a trunk with substantial girth. Leaves are densely growing, dark green and heart shaped. In early summer the tree will burst into colour with clusters of exceptionally fragrant yellow flowers. The tree is an excellent source of nectar for honey bees. The tree has a long history of being the most prairie hardy Linden and is to be considered a low maintenance selection.
Evans Cherry
The Evans Cherry is hardy producer of an edible moderate sweetness cherry. The tree puts on a brilliant show of white flowers in the spring and then produces bright red fruit weighing 4.5g - 5.0g that ripens in mid August. The cultivar is self-pollinating, cold hardy and has a long history of growing in Alberta. The cherry can be eaten right off the tree once ripe, or used for making jams, jellies, pies, and even wines.
Fall Red Apple
The Fall Red Apple is an exceptionally cold hardy apple tree that will grow a delicious apple right in your own orchard. The apples are best eaten fresh off the tree or can be used in baking and juicing. On average apples measure 7 - 8cm across, have a dark red skin and white flesh. They are crisp and sweet (12.4 °Bx) with a pleasant flavor. We find that the apple has a some what traditional flavour which in the industry is referred to as being “moderately acidic”. As it’s name describes, apples are best harvested later on in the fall. The apples can be stored in your cold room for up to 90 days. The tree shows moderate resistance to fire blight. The tree tends towards alternate bearing.
Green Ash
The Green Ash is a time tested and true tree for the prairies. They are amongst the hardiest of trees for our region. The tree boasts glossy dark green leaves that are pinnately compound with five to nine large leaflets. Autumn turns these leaves a golden yellow. The tree has greyish brown bark with interlacing furrows and ridges that produce a distinctive diamond pattern. Green Ash are cold, drought and urban tolerant making them widely suitable for any application. Green ash are native to South Eastern Alberta and have have been planted in our parks and yards since the very beginning.
Laurel Leaf Willow
The Laurel Leaf Willow is an extremely hardy, large sized tree that is native to Northern Europe. It is noted for having a rounded form, dark green glossy leaves and twisted trunk bark. It produces catkins that are golden yellow in colour. The tree is normally allowed a low canopy and is perfectly content in wet sites. Laurel Leaf willows are very eager to leaf out in the spring and reuctant to drop their leaves in the fall.
Mayday
The Mayday tree is a medium sized tree that produces beautiful five petalled white flowers clustered along short stalks know botanically as racemes. The tree is native to Northern Europe and has for a very long time been a part of our history. The best part of having a Mayday tree in your yard is they are by far the first species to bud out in the spring. You will often see flowers and leaves at the very beginning of May if not the end of April. After a long winter they are a true delight for both gardeners and hungry honey bees. They produce very small cherries that are readily eaten by birds. They are a very hardy tree and require little maintenance. At maturity they can grow to 10m tall, but we know of a specimen or two down on river side that would put that measurement to the test.
Silver Cloud Maple
The Silver Cloud Maple is a selection of the native species that is seedless, has superior cold hardiness and a more balanced branch structure. The tree is adorned with bright green 5 lobed maple leaves that shimmer in the wind with a silvery underside. This Maple also stands out due to it’s attractive silver bark. The tree is fast growing and drought tolerant. The Silver Cloud Maple is an excellent addition to any grounds with adequate space as a feature or shade tree.

