Sorbus 'Chinese Lace' 12ltr Pot

Sorbus 'Chinese Lace' – Mountain Ash – 12ltr Pot

'Chinese Lace' is aptly named. Its leaves are so deeply cut and finely divided that the canopy looks almost like lacework, giving the tree a delicate, fern-like texture unlike any other rowan. Clusters of white flowers open in late spring, followed by dark red berries in autumn. In autumn the dark green foliage also turns rich shades of red, purple and yellow, making this one of the most colourful small trees of the season.

The spring blossom feeds bees and other pollinators, and the berries are a valuable autumn food source for birds. The fruit is ornamental and shouldn't be eaten by people or pets, so wear gloves when handling berried branches.

Grow in full sun or light dappled shade, in moderately fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil. It tolerates clay, loam and sand, though it prefers acid to neutral conditions. It is fully hardy and copes with both exposed and sheltered sites. Its compact, upright habit suits city and courtyard gardens, cottage planting and wildlife gardens. Expect around 6m in height over time, within an ultimate range of 4–8m tall and 2.5–4m wide. Work well-rotted compost into the planting hole, stake firmly, and water well through the first summer. Pruning is minimal: just remove any damaged or crossing branches in winter.

Each tree is hand-selected before dispatch.