Japanese Rowan Sorbus commixta
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- SOR-bus kom-MIKS-ta
- Description
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Sorbus commixta, or Japanese Mountain Ash, is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree that can reach a height of 23 to 33 feet. It has a rounded crown and brownish to silvery-grey bark. The leaves change to a deep purple or red in the fall, the white flowers are very attractive in the summer, and the bright orange fruit in the fall is a food source for birds. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.
The JapaneseMountain Ash grows best in moist, acidic, well-drained soils in full sun. It is widely planted in northern North America as an ornamental and has naturalized in some parts of Canada and the northern U.S. Mountain ashes have ash-like leaves, but are members of the rose family, and are not related to true ashes (Fraxinus), which are in the olive family.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems
Bacterial fireblight can be a severe problem, causing scorched leaves at the branch ends. Scab can cause significant defoliation. Cankers, crown gall, powdery mildew and rust may also occur. Insect visitors include aphids, sawfly, scale and borers. Stressed trees are particularly vulnerable to borers and cankers.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Sorbus
- Species:
- commixta
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central China, Korea, Japan
- Wildlife Value:
- Fall fruit attracts birds.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Orange
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Pome
- Fruit Description:
- Orange/red berries in fall.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Corymb
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- White flowers in early summer on 4 to 6 inch corymb. The flowers have five white petals and 20 yellowish-white stamens.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves have 11 to 15 leaflets with a bluish underside. Fall colors are deep purple to red. The leaves are 8 to 12 inches long.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Gray
- Light Gray
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Attracts:
- Songbirds