Description
Eastern North American deciduous tree or shrub
Description: Clusters of white flowers in late spring followed by showy red fruits; dark green foliage changes to yellow, red, and purple in fall
Habit: Grows 10 to 30 feet high and wide; spreading, rounded crown
Culture: Prefers full sun and well-drained soil, but tolerant of moist conditions
Hardiness: Cold hardy to USDA Zone 2
Origin: North America
Attributes: Showy fruit, attracts birds
The natural range of this North American species is from Newfoundland to Manitoba, south to Michigan and the southern Appalachians to Georgia. First introduced to Europe in 1782, John Bartrams 1783 Broadside included Sorbus americana as a tree found in "moist rich Soil in rocky Mountains". Philadelphia nurseryman Bernard McMahon listed it as American Service Tree in his 1804 Catalogue of American Seeds. In 1867, New York writer Robert Copeland commented that the American mountain ash was best planted in masses. Also known as Dogberry, the bitter fruits (or Rowan berries) are edible to birds and other wildlife. zone2,zone3,zone4,zone5,zone6,zone7
