Sorbus vilmorinii
(Vilmorin's Rowan)

Family - Rosaceae
Category - Tree
Origin - China
Discovered By - Abbe Delavay for Vilmorin's Nursery
Year of Introduction - 1889
Season of Interest - Spring, Summer, Autumn
Hardiness - H6
Height - 5m
Width - 5m
Location - The Thicket

Description: A small, Deciduous tree with an upright habit, rounded crown and graceful, arching branches. The attractive, fern-like leaves are pinnate with dark green, Elliptic leaflets. Many small, creamy white flowers are held in Corymbs and produced from late spring into early summer. The flowers are followed by clusters of red berries that turn white marked with pink as they age.

Seed was collected by Abbe Delavay and then sent to Maurice de Vilmorin, a french botanist and nurseryman whom the tree is named after.

Award of Garden Merit (AGM).

Flower:

Many small, creamy white, saucer-shaped flowers are produced in corymbs in May and June. The flowers are followed by dense clusters of round berries that are deep red, gradually maturing to white, flecked with pink.

Flower colour: White

Flower shape: Saucer-shaped flowers in corymbs

Flowering time: May, June

Foliage:

Pinnate leaves have small, dark green leaflets that are Elliptic in shape. The foliage turns rich shades of scarlet red and purple in autumn.

Foliage Senescence: Deciduous

Foliage Shape: Pinnate with elliptic leaflets

Autumn Colour: Red, purple

Propagation:

Cuttings, seed.

Cultivation:

Best in full sun to partial shade in fertile, moisture retentive soil that is well drained.