American Mountainash

Sorbus americana

Great Fall Color Leaves Turn Orange and Purple
Showy White Spring Flowers
Great Northern Flowering Tree
Bird and Wildlife Friendly Fruit
Grows 10' to 30' with 15' Spread
Zones 2 to 5
Can't Ship To: AK, AZ, HI, WA

Click icons for more information Show All Hide All

Zones 2 - 5

Hardiness Zones: Zones 2 - 5
The American Mountainash can be expected to grow in the zones shown in color in the arborday.org zone map.VIEW MAP

flowering tree

Type of tree:
The American Mountainash falls into the following type(s): Flowering Trees, Ornamental Trees

10' - 30' High

Mature Height:
The American Mountainash grows to be 10' - 30' feet in height.

15' Spread

Mature Spread:
The American Mountainash has a spread of about 15' at full maturity.

Slow Growth

Growth Rate:
This tree grows at a slow growth rate. [More about this.]

Multiple Exposures

Sun:
This mountainash does well in full sun, partial shade.

Various Soils

Soil:
The American Mountainash grows in acidic, loamy, sandy, well drained, wet, clay soils.

Oval Shape

Shape:
This mountainash has oval shape.

More Info

Attributes:
Spectacular fall foliage. The fruit provides winter food for birds.

Wildlife Value:
The American Mountain Ash is an important source of food for many small birds and mammals including catbirds, thrushes, and waxwings. Fruits persist through winter.

History/Lore/Use:
First cultivated in 1811. The Mountain Ash is a northern tree that is a true plastic taxon inasmuch as it will interbreed with other families of trees and plants including the great rose family. The fruit has been known to intoxicate birds. Also known as the Rowantree because it resembles the European Rowantree. The bark was used as a anti-malarial medicine by pioneer doctors because of its close resemblance to the Quininetree. It was also believed to be powerful in exorcising witches by the early settlers and was known as Witchwood.

Moisture:
Well drained

Leaves:
This tree has dark green leaves, turning orange and purple in the fall

Flower Color:
White flowers

Bloom Time:
Spring.

Fruit Description:
This tree has flame-red fruit

This small native tree's dark green leaves turn orange and purple in the fall. Showy white spring flowers, followed by flame-red fruit loved by birds. Likes acidic soil with good drainage, full sun to light shade. Grows to 10' to 30'.

		Spring Shipping		Fall Shipping
Color	Zone	Approximate Ship Dates	Order Deadline	Approximate Ship Dates	Order Deadline
	2	04/15–05/30	05/14	11/01–11/26	11/12
	3	04/15–05/30	05/14	11/01–11/26	11/12
	4	04/15–05/30	05/14	11/01–11/26	11/12
	5	04/15–05/30	05/14	11/01–11/26	11/12
	6	03/19–05/12	05/07	11/01–12/03	11/19
	7	03/11–05/07	04/30	11/05–12/10	11/26
	8	02/26–04/30	04/23	11/05–12/10	11/26
	9	02/26–04/30	04/23	11/05–12/10	11/26
	10	02/26–04/30	04/23	11/05–12/10	11/26

We're sorry, but this tree can't be shipped to AK, AZ, HI, WA , territories, or countries outside the U.S. This is due to the agricultural laws within these locations.

When you order trees from The Arbor Day Foundation, your order is guaranteed to arrive in a good, healthy condition or we'll replace them at no charge. Your trees will be shipped at a suitable time for planting.

Each tree is guaranteed to grow, or we'll replace it at one half the original price, plus shipping and handling.

The benefits of bare-root trees

Our trees are delivered with natural bare roots which have been dipped in hydrating gel prior to shipment to keep the roots moist and healthy. As their abundant, fibrous roots aren't confined by a container, bare-root trees get off to a more vigorous start compared to containerized roots which typically need more time to adjust to transplanting. Bare-root trees typically surpass the size of larger containerized trees in only a few years.

	Standard		Dwarf
	Mature Height	Space Needed	Mature Height	Space Needed
Apple	20' - 25'	35' x 35'	10' **	10' x 10' ++
Peach	20'	20' x 20'	8' - 10'	10' x 10'
Sweet Cherry	30'	20' x 25'	12' - 15'	10' x 10'
Sour Cherry	20'	20' x 20'	8'	10' x 10'
Pear	20'	20' x 20'	12' - 15'	12' x 12'
Apricot	20'	20' x 20'
Plum	20'	20' x 20'	8' - 10'	10' x 10'
			** semi-dwarf 12' - 15' ++ semi-dwarf 12' x 12'

Natural Root and Containerized Trees

Natural root (also called bare root) trees are shipped without soil around their roots. They are shipped when dormant in the spring and fall seasons. We dip the roots in a hydrating gel to keep them moist during shipping.

There are a number of advantages to natural root trees:

They are very affordable.
Their roots re-establish themselves well once they are planted in their permanent location.
They are easy to plant at the correct depth.

The Urban Horticulture Institute at Cornell University has an interesting article about the benefits of planting natural root trees. Look for the PDF entitled Creating the Urban Forest: The Bare Root Method

Potted (also called containerized) trees come in 4" containers.

If you have questions, please call (888) 448-7337 or E-mail Member Services.

We inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees.

10 Free Trees

Tree Nursery