Sorbus alnifolia

(Siebold & Zuccarini) K. Koch

Korean mountain ash, Water-elm mountain ash

Rosaceae Edible: Fruit

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Summary

Deciduous tree reaching 15 m tall by 8 m wide with fast growth. Hardy to UK zone 6. Flowers in May with seeds ripening September to October. Hermaphroditic and insect-pollinated. Tolerates light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils preferring well-drained conditions. Mildly acid to mildly alkaline pH acceptable. Grows in semi-shade or full sun, prefers moist soil. Tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

Description

A deciduous tree. It grows 20 m tall. It is a broad cone shape. The bark is dark brown and smooth. It has shallow cracks. The leaves are oval and 10 cm long by 4 cm wide. They are pointed and have teeth along the edge. They are dark green and downy above and become smooth underneath. They turn yellow, orange or red in autumn. The flowers are 1 cm across and white. They occur in clusters. The fruit is rounded and yellow or red. They are 1 cm across.

Edible Uses

The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked. Each fruit is roughly pea-sized, up to 14mm long, and is produced in fairly large bunches that make harvesting straightforward. The flavour is reasonably mild and somewhat mealy.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten fresh and also used for making wine.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

None known

Distribution

A temperate plant. It is native to China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan. It grows in woods between 500-2,300 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 6-9. In Sichuan.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia, China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan,

Propagation

Seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Where sufficient seed is available, it can be sown in an outdoor seedbed. Stored seed germinates better with 2 weeks of warm stratification followed by 14–16 weeks of cold stratification, so it should be sown as early in the year as possible. Prick seedlings out into individual pots when large enough to handle. Seedlings are slow to produce top-growth in the first year or two as they establish their root systems. Keep them in pots in a cold frame through their first winter, then plant out into permanent positions in late spring.

Other Uses

The wood is even-grained and used for making rulers.

Notes

There are about 75-100-200 Sorbus species.

Synonyms

Micromeles alnifolia (Siebold. & Zucc.) Koehne

References (9)

Ann. Mus. Bot. Lugduno-Batavum 1:249. 1864
Coombes, A.J., 2000, Trees. Dorling Kindersley Handbooks. p 274
Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 1355
Hibbert, M., 2002, The Aussie Plant Finder 2002, Florilegium. p 292
Hu, Shiu-ying, 2005, Food Plants of China. The Chinese University Press. p 463

Show all 9 references

Hwang, H., et al, 2013, A Study on the Flora of 15 Islands in the Western Sea of Jeollanamdo Province, Korea. Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity Vol. 6, No. 2 281-310
Lee, Y. M., 2014 Important Plants of East Asia II: Endemic Plant Stories. East Asia Biodiversity Conservation Network p 58 (As Micromeles alnifolia)
Lord, E.E., & Willis, J.H., 1999, Shrubs and Trees for Australian gardens. Lothian. p 73
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/