Sorbus commixta ‘Alba’

Planted: 1997

At the western end of the Moat Path.

Distribution:	Native to central and eastern China, Korea, Japan, and north-east Russia.
Planting Date:	Purchased from Blakedown Nurseries, Kidderminster in 1997
Growth Habit:	A small to medium-sized deciduous tree growing to 7 m to 10 m tall. Growing in mixed forests and on mountain slopes.
Bark:	Brownish to silvery-grey bark. During winter, the tree has long, pointed, and sticky buds
Leaf:	The pinnate leaves consist of 11–17 leaflets, each 4 to 7 cm long and 1 to 2.5 cm wide. With a pointed apex and serrated margins; they change to a deep purple or red in autumn. Plants from the Japanese island of Hokkaidō, the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin are sometimes distinguished as Sorbus commixta’var. ‘sachalinensis, with larger leaflets up to 9 cm long.
Flowers:	Flowers are 6 to 10 mm in diameter, with five white petals and 20 yellowish-white stamens produced in corymbs 9 to 15 cm in diameter in late spring to early summer.
Fruit:	The fruit is a white pome, instead of the usual red, 7 to 8 mm in diameter and maturing in autumn.
Toxicity:	Unknown
Uses:	An ornamental tree grown particularly for its autumn leaf colour.
Plant Hunter:	Unknown
Introduction Date:	Introduced into the UK in the 1880s
Anecdotes and Comments: