Sorbus alnifolia Red Bird

Sorbus alnifolia Red Bird
Korean Mountain Ash, Korean Whitebeam

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Sorbus alnifolia Red Bird 4L/5L pot sample as delivered in autumn

4L/5L pot (Shipped height around 80/100cm)

From 39,50 €

Price per item 45,00 €
Price for 3: 118,50 € i.e 39,50 € each

Sku: 202671

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This plant carries a 24 months recovery warranty

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This variety of Japanese Rowan or Alder-leaved Sorbus forms a small deciduous tree with an upright narrow, columnar growth habit. Its dense crown of leaves is highly ornamental, as are its flowering and fruiting and even its winter branches when the foliage has fallen. It provides a lot of interest and benefits to wildlife and flora throughout the seasons. This small delicate looking tree prefers moist, well-drained soils and sunny to partially shaded exposures.

Flower size

10 cm

Height at maturity

6 m

Spread at maturity

3.50 m

Exposure

Sun, Partial shade

Hardiness

Hardy down to -15°C

Soil moisture

Moist soil

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Best planting time February, October to November

Recommended planting time February to March, October to December

JAN J

FEB F

MAR M

APR A

MAY M

JUN J

JUL J

AUG A

SEP S

OCT O

NOV N

DEC D

Flowering time May to June

JAN J

FEB F

MAR M

APR A

MAY M

JUN J

JUL J

AUG A

SEP S

OCT O

NOV N

DEC D

Description

Sorbus alnifolia 'Red Bird' is a variety of Japanese Rowan or alder-leaved sorbus. It forms a small tree with an upright, columnar habit and a dense crown of ornamental leaves, similar to those of the Alder, deeply veined, oval, and green. They turn scarlet red in autumn. After a beautiful white flowering in spring, which is attractive to bees, it produces an abundance of small red-orange fruits that feed birds until winter. This delicate sorbus easily fits in smaller gardens.

Sorbus alnifolia, belonging to the Rosaceae family, is native to the Far East, China, and Korea. It forms a slender tree with a moderate growth of 8 to 10 metres in height and up to 20 metres in its natural environment. The bark is smooth and dark grey. The young branches are olive green and darken with age. The leaf buds are brown-red. The oval leaf closely resembles that of the alder. It has up to 15 prominent veins, and the leaf margin is doubly toothed. The upper side is matte green, and the lower side is light green and slightly hairy to smooth. In autumn, they display pink, orange, and red hues. The spring flowering occurs in corymbs of small white flowers. Following the flowering are round yellow fruits that slowly turn red. They go through different stages, which in autumn, present a highly decorative appearance. Cross-pollination is necessary for fruiting; therefore, it is advisable to plant multiple specimens next to each other. It grows in well-drained, moist to dry, acidic, neutral, or slightly alkaline soil, in full sun or partial shade, sheltered from strong winds. It is very hardy, down to -25°C. As it has deep roots, it should be kept away from paving and buildings.

Sorbus alnifolia 'Red Bird', with its narrow and upright growth, reaches approximately 6 metres in height and 3.5 metres in width in 20 years. It is an ornamental tree in all seasons, even in winter, when the grey, smooth bark and bare, dense branches are attractive.

The 'Red Bird' Japanese Rowan, although quite tall, remains narrow and is well-suited for small gardens. Its ornamental qualities make it suitable for solitary planting or as part of a grove of large shrubs. It is also ideal for informal hedges. It can be used in the background of flower beds, alone or mixed with other species with autumn foliage such as Prunus, hazelnuts, sweet gum, parrotia, or maples.

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Family sheet

Modified the 12 August 2025 by Eva 10 min.

Sorbs, whitebeam: plant, prune and care

Read article

<a href="https://en.promessedefleurs.eu/shrubs/shrubs-by-variety/sorbus-mountain-ash.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rowans, Sorbus in Latin</a>, are easy-to-grow bushes that thrive in well-defined winters. They are renowned for their hard and dense wood as well as their decorative fruits, which are especially favoured by birds. The <a href="https://www.promessedefleurs.com/arbustes/arbustes-par-variete/sorbiers/sorbus-aucuparia-sorbier-des-oiseleurs-en-racines-nues-p-2868.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mountain ash</a> or rowan is highly regarded for both its ornamental role and its ecological function. Sorbus aucuparia forms a small tree with a graceful, well-balanced rounded silhouette, featuring feathery leaves that turn golden yellow in autumn and is abundant with small vermilion berries from July to December. Hunters used these berries as bait to attract thrushes, hence its other name "thrush tree". The domestic rowan, on the other hand, is often planted near houses because its fruits, known as corms or sorbs, which resemble small pears (2.5 cm long) or reddish-brown apples, have a sweet taste when over-ripe (brown), making excellent jams and syrups. While the mountain ash (Sorbus aucuparia) fears drought and prefers cool climates, - it can be found as far as Iceland and the boreal Asia - the domestic rowan (Sorbus domestica) enjoys the warmth of southern Europe and can be found as far as North Africa. The latter is valued for the quality of its timber, just like the service tree (Sorbus torminalis), another native species familiar to the forests of the eastern Paris Basin, Centre, and Poitou-Charente, whose distribution area extends to the Caucasus and the Middle East. Rowans are hardy trees, tolerating frosts of up to -25°C on average, easy to grow, very floriferous, and require no care. They exhibit rapid growth during the first 20 years, which then slows down. The introduction of new cultivars and Asian species offers a variety of forms and exceptional berry colours that deserve more frequent use in landscaping. The only precaution is to plant them away from a terrace or a tarmacked path due to the mess caused by the quantity of fruits and their appeal to birds. [caption id="attachment_46795" align="aligncenter" width="1172"]<img class="size-full wp-image-46795" src="https://www.promessedefleurs.com/blogwp/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Sorbus-aucuparia2.jpg" alt="Mountain ash" width="1172" height="780" /> Flowering and foliage of Sorbus aucuparia.[/caption]

Sorbus alnifolia Red Bird in pictures

Foliage

Plant habit

Height at maturity 6 m

Spread at maturity 3.50 m

Habit columnar

Growth rate normal

Flowering

Flower colour white

Flowering time May to June

Inflorescence Corymb

Flower size 10 cm

Fragrance slightly scented,

Bee-friendly Attracts pollinators

Fruit colour red

Foliage

Foliage persistence Deciduous

Foliage colour medium green

Botanical data

Genus

Sorbus

Species

alnifolia

Cultivar

Red Bird

Family

Rosaceae

Other common names

Korean Mountain Ash, Korean Whitebeam

Origin

East Asia

Product reference • 20267

Planting and care

Sorbus alnifolia is best planted in autumn. It thrives in full sun, but can also tolerate partial shade for part of the day. Place it in a sheltered spot away from prevailing winds. It prefers deep, rich, moist, but well-drained soil that is acidic, neutral, or slightly alkaline. Water it during dry periods. Remove dead wood or diseased branches. If necessary, prune at the end of winter, before the vegetation starts to grow again, removing any crossing inner branches and keeping only the vigorous branches to maintain the tree's good habit.

Spider mites, aphids, and scale insects are the main pests of the mountain ash. Powdery mildew and sooty mould, which are fungal diseases, can also affect this tree.

Planting period

Best planting time February, October to November

Recommended planting time February to March, October to December

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow, Woodland edge

Type of use Border, Back of border, Free-standing

Hardiness Hardy down to -15°C (USDA zone 7b) Show map

Ease of cultivation Amateur

Exposure Sun, Partial shade

Soil pH Any

Soil type Clayey (heavy), Silty-loamy (rich and light)

Soil moisture Moist soil, Deep, well-draining.

Care

Pruning instructions Remove dead wood or diseased branches. If necessary, prune at the end of winter, before vegetation resumes, removing inner branches that are crossing and keeping only the vigorous branches to maintain the proper habit of the tree.

Pruning Pruning recommended once a year

Pruning time February to March

Soil moisture Moist soil

Disease resistance Good

Overwinter Can be left in the ground