Sorbus Copper Glow - Rowan

Sorbus 'Copper Glow' is a charming small tree with a well-proportioned conical habit, twice as tall as it is wide. Its deciduous foliage, composed of numerous green leaflets, is elegant and ornamental. In spring, it produces corymbs of cream-white flowers that contrast beautifully against the darker vegetation. After fertilisation, the flowers develop into small decorative berries, a lovely copper-orange, which delight birds in autumn. At this time of year, the foliage turns red, providing a beautiful display in the garden. Able to adapt to most well-drained soils, very resistant to cold as well as urban pollution, this Rowan will find its place both in a small city garden and in more rural areas, in a space that is more natural than formal.

Sorbus, which includes the Rowans with compound leaves and the Service trees with simple leaves, are part of the very large family of Rosaceae. This family includes both wild species from the countryside (woodland strawberry...) and numerous ornamental plants (Amelanchier, Lady's Mantle, Rose...) as well as most of our temperate and Mediterranean fruit trees (Apple trees, Apricot trees...). Sorbus x arnoldiana is a hybrid resulting from the cross-breeding between Sorbus aucuparia (the famous Rowan) and Sorbus discolor, native to northern China where it can reach heights of up to 10 m. It was described in 1920 by the great American botanist Alfred Rehder, whose plant identification work is still referenced today. This hybrid is very close to the Rowan, differing by slightly smaller leaves and more or less hairless winter buds.
'Copper Glow' is a cultivar of small to medium size, which typically forms a small, conical, and slender tree, with a trunk that is often quite straight, reaching 8 m in height (sometimes 10) and 4 m in width. The branches bear odd-pinnate leaves, meaning composed of an odd number of leaflets, ranging from 9 to 17. These have a very elongated lanceolate shape, toothed along their edges, and are medium to dark green. They are arranged oppositely on either side of the leaf rachis, with a leaflet terminating at the end of it. They are very ornamental with their fern-like appearance.
Around May, approximately 10 cm diameter corymbs form, composed of tiny cream-white, single flowers, with stamens protruding from the corolla, giving them a fluffy appearance. These inflorescences are homey-producing, thus adding a useful appeal to wildlife in addition to the ornamental character of the plant. Once fertilised, the flowers gradually develop into spherical fruits, approximately 1 cm in diameter, and of an original copper-orange which gave its name to the variety (Copper Glow = copper glow or shine). Ripening in September, these berries are a feast for birds. Autumn offers yet another opportunity for this Rowan to shine as its foliage then ignites in red before finally falling to the ground.

The 'Copper Glow' Rowan is an extremely hardy (-30°C) and easy-to-cultivate plant, and its dimensions allow it to be planted even in small city gardens. Its natural appearance will fit equally well in a rural environment, where you can plant it alongside other wilder looking plants. A beautiful specimen of Hawthorn (Crataegus) with generous flowering will be a perfect companion to the rustic silhouette. To create a striking autumn contrast, plant a small Amelanchier alnifolia 'Martin', or Alder-leaved Amelanchier, whose slightly bluish-green foliage will turn yellow at the end of the season. In spring, this small bush will offer you superb white flowering, which will later fruit in the form of sweet berries resembling blueberries. To stay within the Rosaceae family, add a specimen of Rosa glauca, a botanical rose with foliage ranging from purple to bluish, and whose small pink flowers, with white petals at the base and a golden centre, will captivate you. They are honey-bearing and develop shiny red fruits that remain on the plant throughout winter, nourishing the birds.