Sorbus ‘White Wax’. Image by David Shand.
The time has come when your garden is at risk of looking terribly drab. The wind has snatched all the lovely autumn foliage from the trees, the herbaceous plants have collapsed in a heap, and the mud is all-pervading, and all conquering.
It’s all too easy to let the mud and the rain and the general misery of it all take over, and retreat indoors to hide underneath a large duvet (I should know: it’s where I am now). But I’ve decided that winter shall not win. After all, when the frosts come, I dig out my fabulous winter wardrobe of wonderful stilettos, warm, bright scarves and superb coats. In winter, I fall in love again with accessories: with earrings, pearls, and even brooches. I love the glamour and sparkle of winter dressing: so why shouldn’t I do the same with my garden?
Sorbus (Mountain ash) is one of those trees that lends a fabulous sparkle to winter gardens. So it’s time to get glamorous and start accessorising wildly with pinks, reds and whites.
Sorbus ‘Wisley Gold’. Image by Susie Sprite.
Sorbus ‘Chinese Lace’. Image by Andreina Schoeberlein.
Sorbus commixta. Image by Kate’s Photo Diary.
Sorbus ‘Pink Pagoda’. Image by Rick Leche.
Really, can you get anything more fabulous than a tree weighed down by girly pink berries?
Mountain ashes are pretty easy to grow, and they even love chalky soil, which makes them obliging as well as fabulous.
Vital stats
Location:
Not fussy.
Light:
Sun/light shade
When to plant:
Spring/autumn
What can I expect from this plant?
Height/spread:
1.5 metres
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Image a day
Tessa
Just beautiful! I think I’m going to have to plant one of each! Thanks so much for posting the growing info- lees research for me. Looks like I’m safe with our low temps- judging by the snow. Just wanted to let you know that I tried to rate your post on Blotanical and it wouldn’t work- just a heads up.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Tessa
Matt Williams
Lovelly tree’s. The white or yellow berries last much longer then red (birds love red berries muuch more and so they get stripped faster… but who would begrudge them the feast?). I much prefer the name Rowan (Mountain Ash is misleading as genus Fraxinus, the Ash, is actually in a whole diferent Order ofn plants to Sorbus!), Rowan is a lovely name derived from Norse, and there’s a whole facinating folk-lore related to Sorbus acuparia in particular.
isabel
Hi Tessa,
Thanks for the heads-up about Blotanical: I think I’ve lost my username and password, and can’t edit my entry. Bit confusing! will try to fix it. Yeah Rowans are very hardy, so plant away.
Matt, you’ve intrigued me: I must read up on this folklore now!