Sorbus Autumn Spire. (Mountain Ash)

Pick up Only due to Size

Sorbus 'Autumn Spire': A Compact Jewel for the Garden 🌳🍂

A slender and vibrant deciduous tree, Sorbus 'Autumn Spire' is a popular choice for gardens of all sizes, prized for its striking seasonal interest and columnar growth habit. This cultivar of the Rowan or Mountain Ash is particularly well-suited to smaller spaces, offering a dramatic display of colour from spring through to autumn. 

This compact tree is celebrated for its upright, narrow form, typically reaching a mature height of around 4-6 metres with a spread of only 1-2 metres. Its disciplined growth makes it an excellent selection for avenue planting, as a focal point in a small garden, or for adding vertical interest to a mixed border.

Essential Characteristics:

• Foliage 🌿🍁: The leaves are pinnate, meaning they are composed of multiple small leaflets, giving them a delicate, feathery appearance. They are a bright, fresh green throughout the spring and summer, transforming into a spectacular display of fiery reds, oranges, and purples in the autumn.

• Flowers 🌸: In late spring, 'Autumn Spire' produces clusters of creamy-white flowers. These blossoms are attractive to pollinators, adding a touch of gentle beauty to the garden.

• Berries 🟠: Following the flowers, the tree develops bunches of attractive, spherical berries. A key feature of this cultivar is its vibrant, golden-yellow to orange-yellow berries, which provide a stunning contrast against the brilliant autumn foliage. These berries are a valuable food source for birds, often persisting on the branches well into the winter.

Growing Information:

• Sunlight and Soil ☀️🌱: Sorbus 'Autumn Spire' thrives in full sun to partial shade. It is adaptable to a range of soil types but prefers well-drained, moderately fertile soil. It is generally tolerant of both slightly acidic and alkaline conditions.

• Watering 💧: Young trees will benefit from regular watering to help them establish. Once mature, they are relatively drought-tolerant but will appreciate occasional deep watering during prolonged dry spells.

• Hardiness and Position ❄️: This tree is fully hardy and can tolerate exposed locations, making it a robust choice for various garden settings in Ireland. Its tolerance of urban pollution also makes it a suitable option for city gardens.

• Maintenance ✂️: 'Autumn Spire' requires minimal pruning. Any dead, damaged, or crossing branches can be removed in late winter or early spring to maintain a healthy framework.

Due to its impressive year-round appeal and manageable size, Sorbus 'Autumn Spire' is a highly regarded ornamental tree that brings elegance and vibrant colour to the landscape.