We have recently published ‘Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions’: i.e. tropical and sub-tropical regions. We rely on regular donations to keep our free database going and help fund development of this and another book we are planning on food forest plants for Mediterranean climates. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Sorbus scopulina - Greene.

Common Name Western Mountain Ash, Greene's mountain ash, Cascade mountain ash
Family Rosaceae
USDA hardiness 4-8
Known Hazards The seeds probably contain hydrogen cyanide. This is the ingredient that gives almonds their characteristic flavour. Unless the seed is very bitter it should be perfectly safe in reasonable quantities. In small quantities, hydrogen cyanide has been shown to stimulate respiration and improve digestion, it is also claimed to be of benefit in the treatment of cancer. In excess, however, it can cause respiratory failure and even death.
Habitats Canyons and wooded slopes, 1200 - 2700 metres in California[71]. Moist and wet soils of hills and mountains to 2,700 metres[212].
Range N. America - Labrador to Alaska, south to Maine, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Colorado and Utah.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (1 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Sorbus scopulina Western Mountain Ash, Greene


www.fs.fed.us
Sorbus scopulina Western Mountain Ash, Greene
USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. 3 vols. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York. Vol. 2

 

Translate this page:

Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Sorbus scopulina is a deciduous Shrub growing to 4 m (13ft) by 4 m (13ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5. It is in flower in May, and the seeds ripen in October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

S. sambucifolia. non Roem.

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit
Edible Uses:

Fruit - raw, cooked in pies, preserves etc, or dried for later use[62, 101, 183]. A bitter flavour[212]. The fruit becomes sweeter and so tastes best after a frost, it can also be bletted if it is going to be eaten raw[K]. This involves storing the fruit in a cool dry place until it is almost but not quite going rotten. At this stage the fruit of many species has a delicious taste, somewhat like a luscious tropical fruit. The fruit is up to 5mm across[200].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Enuresis  Febrifuge  Tonic

An infusion of the branches has been given to young children with bed-wetting problems[257]. The bark is febrifuge and tonic[257]. It has been used in the treatment of general sickness[257].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Tropical Plants

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Temperate Plants

Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital media.
More Books

PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.

Shop Now

Other Uses

Wood

The wood is soft and weighs 37lb per cubic foot[235].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in most reasonably good soils in an open sunny position[11]. Dislikes dry soils[188]. Tolerates light shade[188], though it fruits better in a sunny position[K]. Plants are susceptible to fireblight[188].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

Shop Now

Plant Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[78, 80]. If you have sufficient seed it can be sown in an outdoor seedbed[78, 80]. Stored seed germinates better if given 2 weeks warm then 14 - 16 weeks cold stratification[98], so sow it as early in the year as possible. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. Seedlings are very slow to put on top-growth for their first year or two[11], but they are busy building up a good root system. It is best to keep them in pots in a cold frame for their first winter and then plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Northwest Territories, Yukon, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia), United States (Alaska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Colorado, Idaho, Montana (west), Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, New Mexico, California, Nevada (north), Utah)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Amelasorbus jackiiJack's amelasorbusShrub2.0 3-7  LMHSNM20 
Sorbus alnifoliaKorean Mountain AshTree15.0 4-7 FLMHSNM102
Sorbus americanaAmerican Mountain AshTree10.0 2-6 SLMHSNM122
Sorbus ariaWhitebeam, Chess-appleTree12.0 4-8  LMHSNM314
Sorbus aucupariaMountain Ash, European mountain ashTree15.0 3-6 MLMHSNM223
Sorbus austriaca Tree10.0 5-9  LMHSNM20 
Sorbus commixta Tree10.0 5-9  LMHSNM10 
Sorbus decoraShowy Mountain AshTree10.0 0-0  LMHSNM112
Sorbus devoniensisDevon WhitebeamTree13.0 6-9 MLMHSNM302
Sorbus domesticaService TreeTree15.0 6-10 MLMHSNM502
Sorbus gracilis Shrub2.0 5-9  LMHSNM10 
Sorbus hybridaSwedish Service Tree, Oakleaf mountain ashTree9.0 4-8  LMHSNM10 
Sorbus intermediaSwedish WhitebeamTree12.0 4-8 MLMHSNM203
Sorbus japonica Tree20.0 5-9  LMHSNM10 
Sorbus lanata Tree10.0 4-8 MLMHSNM302
Sorbus latifoliaFrench HalesTree14.0 4-8 MLMHSNM40 
Sorbus mougeotii Tree18.0 5-9 MLMHSNM40 
Sorbus pohuashanensis Tree10.0 4-8 FLMHSNM10 
Sorbus sambucifoliaSiberian mountain ashShrub0.0 5-9  LMHSNM20 
Sorbus sitchensisSitka Mountain Ash, Western mountain ashShrub1.8 4-8 SLMHSNM112
Sorbus species Tree10.0 6-9  LMHSNM20 
Sorbus thibeticaTibetan whitebeamTree20.0 5-9  LMHSNM300
Sorbus torminalisWild Service Tree, CheckertreeTree20.0 5-9 MLMHSNM402
Sorbus vestita Tree10.0 6-9  LMHSNM10 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Greene.

Botanical References

1171200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Sorbus scopulina  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.