Which Rowen tree do I want

[Cathpot]

Looking for advuc

[Cathpot]

Looking for advice on which Rowan tree to get- looking for 10-15 feet max and good autumn colour, into rich slightly acid soil. Any advice or stockists?

[AnnieAutumnMouse]

If you get one where the berries turn red on ripening, they are much less bitter than the ones that stay orange, so nicer to use to make jellies, jams and wine. Can't advise as to stockists, as I bought mine from independent local garen centre.

[Cathpot]

Thanks- do they all go red in autumn? I've suddenly noticed lots of them near me and they are beautiful at the moment

[shovetheholly]

There are lots of differently coloured berries - you can get pink (sorbus pseudohupehensis 'pink pagoda' or 'vilmorinii'), white (Sorbus cashmeriana, Sorbus pratii), yellow (sorbus Joseph Rock) and all shades of red from light orange (Sorbus 'sunshine') to the deepest magenta ('Glen spire'). Because, as autumnmouse says, the red berries are tastier, they tend to stay on the trees for less long than the pink or white ones - I guess birds have the same ideas of tastiness as we do when it comes to these trees!

There are also many, many kinds of foliage from deeply divided leaves that are almost filigree in texture (Sorbus 'chinese lace') to quite large, deeply veined and textured ones (Sorbus hemsleyi 'John Bond', which has a lighter underside).

Do check whether the tree has a powerful scent if you are putting it near the house. Some of them have slightly odd-smelling flowers that seem to attract insecfts.

[Cathpot]

Thank you!