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 (23–33 ft). 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 4–7 cm (2–3 in) long and 1–2.5 cm broad, 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 6–10 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: