Sorbus scopulina
Rocky mountain or cascade mountain ash, Rocky Mountain Or Cascade Mountain Ash
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Family: Rosaceae · Type: Shrub / Tree · Native
Sorbus scopulina (Rocky mountain or cascade mountain ash) is a native California shrub / tree in the Rosaceae family, recognized by larger leaflets and hairy pedicels.
Rocky mountain or cascade mountain ash is a native shrub found in the Klamath Ranges, northern California Coast Ranges, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, and Modoc Plateau in canyons, wooded slopes, and conifer forests at elevations of 1,000 to 2,800 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces white flowers with small ovate petals 4 to 6 millimeters long arranged in clustered inflorescences. Growing 1 to 5 meters tall with shiny, sticky stem buds and sparse white hairs, it develops an upright, branching structure. Its compound leaves have 7 to 13 leaflets, each 3 to 8 centimeters long and 1.5 to 3 centimeters wide, with a shiny surface and lance-shaped to ovate form. The fruit is an eye-catching orange to red-orange berry 8 to 12 millimeters long, often with a subtle glaucous coating.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; key features are larger leaflets and hairy pedicels
Habitat and range
Habitat: Canyons, wooded slopes, moist places, conifer forest
Elevation: 1000-2800 m
California counties: Siskiyou, Tulare, Modoc, Trinity, Placer, El Dorado, Butte, Humboldt, Lassen, Mariposa, Plumas, Nevada, Tehama, Shasta, Del Norte, Sierra, Mono, Amador, Madera
Outside California: to Alaska, Saskatchewan, New Mexico
Bloom period
Sorbus scopulina blooms Jun-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Sambucus: Mountain ash has narrow leaflets and pome fruits; elderberry has broader leaflets and true berries.; vs Heteromeles: Mountain ash has pinnate leaves with 9-15 leaflets; toyon has simple toothed leaves.; vs Nandina: Mountain ash has pinnate leaves once-divided; heavenly bamboo has leaves divided 2-3 times.; vs Schinus: Mountain ash has bright red-orange pomes; pepper tree has pink-red drupes and aromatic foliage.; vs Pyracantha: Mountain ash has deciduous pinnate leaves; firethorn has evergreen simple leaves and thorns.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sorbus scopulina native to California?
Yes. Sorbus scopulina is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Sorbus scopulina bloom?
Sorbus scopulina blooms Jun-Jul.
Where in California does Sorbus scopulina grow?
Sorbus scopulina occurs in Siskiyou, Tulare, Modoc, Trinity, Placer, El Dorado, Butte, Humboldt and other counties, at elevations of 1000-2800 m.
What plant family does Sorbus scopulina belong to?
Sorbus scopulina is in the Rosaceae family, genus Sorbus.
What habitat does Sorbus scopulina grow in?
Sorbus scopulina grows in Canyons, wooded slopes, moist places, conifer forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.