Sorbus filipes - Rowan

Sorbus filipes
Rowan, Mountain Ash

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Sorbus filipes - Rowan 4L/5L pot, Standard sample as delivered in autumn

4L/5L pot, Standard (Shipped height around 250/+cm)

From 39,50 €

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

Sku: 2221101

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This rarely grown rowan is a deciduous bush of slow growth, reaching 2 to 4 m in height, native to Tibet and central southern China. Its leaves, finely divided into small green leaflets, turn scarlet in autumn. It produces fragrant white flowers in May-June, followed by small dark red oval fruits that turn white in August-September. This cold-resistant species prefers a sunny position and cool, well-drained soil rich in humus.

Height at maturity

3 m

Spread at maturity

1.50 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 May, October to November

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 filipes is a botanical species of Rowan that will delight collectors and enthusiasts of rare plants. This deciduous bush, native to Tibet and southern central China, has a slow growth rate and features particularly elegant foliage, divided into small green leaflets that turn scarlet in autumn. The flowering of this rowan is rather discreet, followed by the formation of small fruits in clusters that change from dark red to white in August and September.

Sorbus filipes belongs to the Rosaceae family like all rowans. Its distribution range is vast, extending from Tibet to southern central China. It is a species of temperate climate, experiencing humid summers. In the wild, it can be found at altitudes of up to 3,600 m, in sparse forests, growing in shallow, peaty soils on limestone rocks. This bush exhibits a slow growth rate and reaches a height of 2 to 4 m. The young shoots are reddish-brown and hairy, eventually turning grey-black and displaying prominent lenticels. The oval buds measure between 3 and 6 mm long and are covered with a few hairy scales. The foliage is odd-pinnate, meaning that each leaf is composed of an odd number of leaflets. Their main vein is hairy and slightly winged. These leaves measure 5 to 10 cm long. The very small, elliptical to ovate leaflets measure 0.6 to 1.4 cm wide and 4 to 8 mm long; they are toothed and smooth. There are 8 to 13 pairs of leaflets per leaf. The foliage is green in summer, turning scarlet in autumn before falling. This rowan flowers in May-June, depending on the climate. The flowers are gathered in pendulous corymbs, often partially hidden behind the leaves. They emit a light fragrance. The fruits, which develop in August and September, are initially dark red and then turn white. They are oval and measure 7 to 10 mm long. Sorbus filipes is apomictic, capable of producing a diploid embryo without fertilisation, which will then be genetically identical to its mother. This allows it to be reliably multiplied by sowing.

This Asian rowan has some requirements regarding soil and climate, but it should thrive in temperate regions. Given its rarity and delicacy, it should be prominently displayed, as a specimen or in front of a group of larger bushes. Sorbus filipes prefers a sunny position and moist, well-drained soil rich in humus. For better performance in less favourable climates, it is sometimes grafted onto Sorbus aucuparia. This rowan pairs particularly well with Rhododendron ponticum 'Variegatum', Magnolia stellata, Acer davidii (David's Maple), and Viburnum carlesii (Carles' Viburnum). These plants share the same growing conditions and highlight the scarlet foliage and attractive fruits of the Sorbus filipes.

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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]

Plant habit

Height at maturity 3 m

Spread at maturity 1.50 m

Habit irregular, bushy

Growth rate slow

Flowering

Flower colour white

Flowering time May to June

Inflorescence Corymb

Fragrance slightly scented,

Bee-friendly Attracts pollinators

Fruit colour white

Foliage

Foliage persistence Deciduous

Foliage colour medium green

Botanical data

Genus

Sorbus

Species

filipes

Family

Rosaceae

Other common names

Rowan, Mountain Ash

Origin

China

Product reference • 222110

Planting and care

Sorbus filipes is best planted in autumn. It thrives in sunlight (not scorching), which enhances and accentuates the colour of its fruits and autumn foliage. It tolerates light shade better than other rowans. This tree does not like soils that are too dry, too calcareous, or too clayey. It prefers humus, damp, and well-drained ground. Place it sheltered from prevailing winds to prevent uprooting. Water it during dry periods. Remove dead wood or diseased branches. If necessary, at the end of winter before growth resumes, prune the crossing inner branches, retaining only the vigorous branches to maintain the good habit of the tree.

Mites, aphids, and scale insects are the main enemies of the rowan. Powdery mildew and sooty mould can also affect this tree.

Planting period

Best planting time February, October to November

Recommended planting time February to May, October to November

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 Beginner

Planting spacing Every 150 cm

Exposure Sun, Partial shade

Soil pH Acidic, Neutral

Soil type Silty-loamy (rich and light)

Soil moisture Moist soil, humus-bearing, well-drained, damp

Care

Pruning instructions Remove dead wood or diseased branches. If necessary, at the end of winter before growth resumes, prune the inner branches that cross each other and keep only the vigorous branches to maintain the good 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