Sorbus matsumurana - Japanese rowan

Sorbus matsumurana
Rowan, Japanese rowan

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Sorbus matsumurana - Japanese rowan 4L/5L pot, Standard sample as delivered in autumn

4L/5L pot, Standard (Shipped height around 100/120cm)

From 45,00 €

Price per item 49,00 €
Price for 3: 135,00 € i.e 45,00 € each

Sku: 222161

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This plant carries a 24 months recovery warranty

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A Japanese bush, rare in cultivation, the Japanese mountain ash is a small deciduous tree or large deciduous bush that reaches a height of 7 to 8 metres. It is distinguished by its speckled bark, toothed pinnate leaves, and bright red fruits in autumn. Its white spring flowering is very similar to that of the rowan tree. This species thrives in full sun or partial shade, in well-drained soils, preferably humus-bearing, acidic to neutral. It has excellent cold resistance.

Flower size

7 cm

Height at maturity

7.50 m

Spread at maturity

5 m

Exposure

Sun, Partial shade

Hardiness

Hardy down to -20.5°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 matsumurana is a Japanese mountain ash, rare in cultivation. It is a small deciduous tree or large bush native to the mountains of Japan, which will charm with its rounded habit, its speckled bark, its well-furnished pinnate foliage, its white spring flowering, and its highly decorative red fruits in autumn. This variety is ideal for adding a touch of Japan or exoticism to the garden. It will make a beautiful specimen when planted alone.

Sorbus matsumurana belongs to the Rosaceae family, like all mountain ashes. It is a botanical species native to the mountainous regions of Hokkaido and northern Honshu in Japan. In its natural habitat, this mountain ash grows in cold-exposed environments, on humus-rich, well-drained, slightly moist soils. This tree can reach a height of 7 to 8 m and a spread of 5 m. It often takes the form of a large bush with multiple trunks, with a beautiful round and dense crown. Its pinnate, bluish-green leaves composed of 11 oblong and toothed leaflets, turn yellow or orange in autumn before falling. These warm colours create an interesting contrast with the red fruits. The branches are smooth. In winter, they are adorned with long buds measuring approximately 1.3 cm in length, dark blue-violet in colour, smooth except for some hairs on the edges of the scales. Flowering occurs in May-June and is visited by bees. The flowers, grouped in small clusters measuring 5 to 7.5 cm wide, are composed of cream-white petals. The ellipsoid to globose fruits measure approximately 1 cm in length. They turn bright red when ripe. The bark of this Mountain Ash is smooth and light brown-grey. It becomes covered with white lenticels on old trees.

Sorbus matsumurana can be used as a solitary specimen or in a shrub bed inspired by exotic, Japanese, or naturalistic themes. Its moderate growth allows it to be accommodated in many gardens. It pairs well with Sorbus commixta 'Dodong', which resembles it, Acer palmatum 'Dissectum Atropurpureum', which offers beautiful purple autumn colouring, Prunus serrulata 'Kazan' for its spectacular spring flowers in pink pompoms, and Viburnum plicatum 'Grandiflorum' for its white ball-shaped flowers and its flamboyant autumn foliage.

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Family sheet

Modified the 12 August 2025 by Eva 10 min.

Sorbs, whitebeam: plant, prune and care

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<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 matsumurana - Japanese rowan in pictures

Foliage

Plant habit

Height at maturity 7.50 m

Spread at maturity 5 m

Habit spreading

Growth rate normal

Flowering

Flower colour white

Flowering time May to June

Inflorescence Corymb

Flower size 7 cm

Fragrance slightly scented,

Bee-friendly Attracts pollinators

Fruit colour red

Foliage

Foliage persistence Deciduous

Foliage colour medium green

Botanical data

Genus

Sorbus

Species

matsumurana

Family

Rosaceae

Other common names

Rowan, Japanese rowan

Botanical synonyms

Sorbus matsumurana (Makino) Koehne

Origin

Southeast Asia

Product reference • 22216

Planting and care

Sorbus matsumurana is best planted in autumn. It is not demanding in terms of exposure, it can be placed in full sun or partial shade. However, sunlight promotes and enhances the colouration of its fruits and autumn foliage. This tree does not like calcareous, dry, or poorly drained soils. It appreciates a deep, humus-rich, moist, but well-drained, neutral to slightly acidic soil. Water it during very dry periods. Remove dead wood or diseased branches. If necessary, at the end of winter and before vegetation resumes, prune the inner branches that cross and keep only the vigorous branches to maintain the tree's good habit.

Mites, aphids, and scale insects are the main enemies of the mountain ash. Powdery mildew and sooty mould, of fungal origin, are diseases that 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 -20.5°C (USDA zone 6b) Show map

Ease of cultivation Beginner

Planting spacing Every 500 cm

Exposure Sun, Partial shade

Soil pH Acidic, Neutral

Soil type Silty-loamy (rich and light)

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

Care

Pruning instructions Remove dead or diseased branches. I necessary, at the end of winter and before new growth begins, prune the inner branches that are crossing and keep 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