Plant, Tree & Shrub Library

Description:

A hardy accent tree for small landscapes, featuring showy clusters of white flowers in spring followed by bright scarlet berries lasting into winter; attractive compound leaves turn red and orange in fall; needs well drained soil, resistant to fireblight

Ornamental Features

Showy Mountain Ash features showy clusters of white flowers held atop the branches in mid spring. The red fruits are held in abundance in spectacular clusters from early to late fall. It has dark green deciduous foliage. The oval compound leaves turn an outstanding red in the fall. The smooth gray bark adds an interesting dimension to the landscape.

Landscape Attributes

Showy Mountain Ash is a dense multi-stemmed deciduous tree with a shapely oval form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It is a good choice for attracting birds to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Showy Mountain Ash is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Shade

Planting & Growing

Showy Mountain Ash will grow to be about 20 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 15 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 3 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more.

This tree should only be grown in full sunlight. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under average home landscape conditions. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This species is native to parts of North America.