Sorbus aucuparia

European mountain ash

Family: Rosaceae · Type: tree · Not Native

European mountain ash is a naturalized tree found in southern Transverse Ranges in disturbed areas near dwellings at elevations below 1,900 meters. Flowering in May, this tree produces white flowers with rounded petals 4 to 5 millimeters long. Growing with dense white hairs on its stems and reaching up to 15 meters tall, it develops distinctive foliage with 11 to 17 leaflets that are lance-oblong and 3 to 6 centimeters long. Its leaves are dull green with white axillary hairs and arranged pinnately along branches. The tree bears orange to red fruits 8 to 12 millimeters long, which provide visual interest and potential food for wildlife.

Habitat: Disturbed areas near dwellings

Bloom period: May

Elevation: < 1900 m

Bioregions: SnBr

California counties: Tulare, San Bernardino, Alameda, Siskiyou, Trinity

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.