Sorbus vestita

A deciduous tree reaching 10 meters tall with a spreading habit. Flowers appear in May and are insect-pollinated. Hardy to UK zone 7. Grows well in light sandy, medium loamy, or heavy clay soils with good drainage. Tolerates mildly acidic, neutral, and mildly alkaline pH levels. Prefers moist soil and can grow in semi-shade or full sun. Withstands strong winds but not coastal exposure.

Description

A deciduous tree. It grows 15 m tall. It is a broad cone shape. The bark is pale grey and peels in thick flakes. The leaves are narrowly oval and 20 cm long by 15 cm wide. There can be small lobes. There are sharp teeth along the edge. They have white hairs when young but become glossy green above and have dense white hairs underneath. There are up to 11 pairs of veins. The flowers are 2 cm across and white. They have 5 petals. The occur in flattened clusters 10 cm across. The fruit are round or pear shaped and 2 cm across. They are green and speckled with brown.

Edible Uses

The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked and grows up to 2cm across.

Traditional Uses

The ripe fruit are eaten.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

None known

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It is native to the Himalayas. It grows in mountain forest. It suits hardiness zones 7-9.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia, Himalayas, India, Nepal,

Propagation

Seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame, though sufficient quantities can be sown in an outdoor seedbed. Stored seed germinates better with 2 weeks of warm followed by 14–16 weeks of cold stratification, so sow as early in the year as possible. Prick out seedlings into individual pots when large enough to handle. Top-growth is very slow in the first year or two as the plant focuses on root development. Keep seedlings in pots in a cold frame through their first winter, then plant out into permanent positions in late spring.

Other Uses

None known

Notes

There are about 75 Sorbus species.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Mauli, Nephel

References (7)

• Cat. pl. ed. 16:66. 1836
• Coombes, A.J., 2000, Trees. Dorling Kindersley Handbooks. p 282
• Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 1358
• Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
• Rawat, G.S., & Pangtey, Y.P.S., 1987, A Contribution to the Ethnobotany of Alpine Regions of Kumaon. J. Econ. Tax. Bot. Vol. 11 No. 1 pp 139-147

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