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Sorbus sitchensis

Sorbus sitchensis M. Roem.

Western Mountain Ash, Sitka Mountain-ash

Rosaceae (Rose Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: SOSI2

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N)

A 3-12 ft. shrub with many erect to spreading stems from a common base. Foliage is pinnately compound with 7-9 toothed leaflets. Flowers are small and white in dense, flat-topped clusters. They are followed by huge clusters of big, reddish-orange, persistent berries. Fall foliage is yellow to bronzy-red.

The Sitka Mountain Ash is a member of the family Rosaceae which includes about 2000 species of trees, shrubs, and herbs worldwide; approximately 77 native and 9 naturalized tree species and many species of shrubs and herbs in North America; including service-berries (Amelanchier), hawthorns (Crataegus), apples (Malus), plums and cherries (Prunus), and mountain-ashes (Sorbus).

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Size Notes: Up to about 12 feet tall.
Autumn Foliage: yes
Fruit: Red

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Pink
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul
Bloom Notes: White, rarely pinkish.

Distribution

USA: AK , CA , ID , MT , OR , WA
Canada: BC
Native Distribution: AK & Yukon, s. through mts. to n. CA, e. to e. B.C., n. ID & n.w. MT
Native Habitat: Wooded or open, upper montane to subalpine slopes

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil Description: Moist to drier, well-drained soil.

Benefit

Use Wildlife: Grouse, cedar waxwings & grosbeaks consume the berries.
Attracts: Birds

Propagation

Description: Usually propagated by seed sown fresh in fall or stored and stratified.
Seed Treatment: Cold stratify at 32 degrees for 2-4 months.
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:		FACU	FAC			FAC				FAC

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Bibliography

Bibref 841 - Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) Calflora
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Sorbus sitchensis in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Sorbus sitchensis in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Sorbus sitchensis

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-10-21
Research By: TWC Staff

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