Sorbus 'Apricot Lady'

Plant Family

Rosaceae

Plant Botanical Name

Sorbus 'Apricot Lady'

Photo by: JESSE SAYLOR

Plant Common Name

Mountain Ash

General Description

Named for the color of its showy berry-like fruits, this hybrid of European mountain ash grows into a handsome small deciduous tree. Its lush ferny bright green leaves turn orange and red tones in fall. Musky-scented dull white flowers in late spring, clusters of apricot-yellow fruits in late summer and fall, and cherry-like gray-brown bark with conspicuous horizontal pores give it further multi-seasonal interest. The berries are favored by birds.

Grow ‘Apricot Lady' in almost any moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil. In cooler climes it tolerates full sun but where summers are hot, site this tree in partial shade. Use in groups or singly as an eye-catching specimen. European mountain ash and its hybrids often self sow, to the point of weediness in the Northwest United States and other areas.

Characteristics

• AHS Heat Zone

  7 - 1

• USDA Hardiness Zone

  3 - 7

• Sunset Zone

  A1, A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17

• Plant Type

  Tree

• Sun Exposure

  Full Sun, Partial Sun

• Height

  20'-25' / 6.1m - 7.6m

• Width

  15'-20' / 4.6m - 6.1m

• Bloom Time

  Late Spring

• Native To

  Hybrid Origin

Growing Conditions

• Soil pH

  Acidic, Neutral

• Soil Drainage

  Average

• Soil type

  Clay, Loam, Sand

• Growth Rate

  Medium

• Water Requirements

  Average Water

• Habit

  Oval/Rounded

• Seasonal Interest

  Spring, Fall

Ornamental Features

• Flower Interest

  Showy

• Flower Color

  White

• Fruit Color

  Yellow, Orange, Peach

• Foliage Color (Spring)

  Green

• Foliage Color (Summer)

  Green

• Foliage Color (Fall)

  Orange, Burgundy

• Bark Color

  Brown, Gray

• Fragrant Flowers

  Yes

• Fragrant Fruit

  No

• Fragrant Foliage

  No

• Bark or Stem Fragrant

  No

• Flower Petal Number

  Single

• Repeat Bloomer

  No

• Showy Fruit

  Yes

• Edible Fruit

  No

• Showy Foliage

  No

• Foliage Texture

  Fine

• Foliage Sheen

  Matte

• Evergreen

  No

• Showy Bark

  No

Special Characteristics

• Bark Texture

  Smooth

• Usage

  Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier

• Sharp or Has Thorns

  No

• Invasive

  Sometimes

• Attracts

  Birds

• Self-Sowing

  Yes