Swedish Whitebeam - Sorbus intermedia (Ehrh.) Pers.
Rosaceae – Rose family. Swedish whitebeam leaves resemble common alder, but otherwise the trees are unrelated and dissimilar. S. intermedia has creamy white small flowers borne in tight clusters in April, giving rise to small red fruit (pomes). It may grow to be 50 feet in height, but is normally small, of limited familiarity and infrequently planted as an ornamental.

 
Morton Arboretum accession 187-83-1

Growth Characteristics: Height: 25’-35’ / Width: 30’
Form/Habit: round
Growth Rate: medium
Ornamental Characteristics: Flower: showy, white clusters, spring
Fruit: showy, orange-red clusters, berry-like, late summer/early fall
Foliage: green on upper surface with a gray-white pubescence on undersides in summer, color varies from pale green to golden brown to orange-reddish in fall
Bark: not ornamentally important, gray-brown, often smooth, becoming slightly rough with age. (1)

Mougeot Whitebeam Leaflet, S. Mougeotii

Swedish Whitebeam Leaflet, S. intermedia
The Swedish whitebeam is a member of the intermedia aggregate, a group within the genus Sorbus in which the leaflets have distinct lobes. The lowest veins of the leaf end in a pronounced lobe which itself can have smaller teeth on it and the lobe cuts into the leaf up to half way along the vein to the mid rib. S. intermedia has about 8 veins (7 to 9) the lowest six of which point to these lobes. Note: the Mougeot leaflets are missing this key feature.
Native:
  • EUROPE
    Northern Europe: Denmark; Finland; Ireland; Norway; Sweden; United Kingdom
    Middle Europe: Austria; Czechoslovakia; Germany; Hungary; Poland; Switzerland
    East Europe: Estonia; Latvia; Lithuania; Russian Federation - Kaliningrad; Ukraine
    Southeastern Europe: Bulgaria; Italy; Romania; Yugoslavia
    Southwestern Europe: France; Spain (2)

Synonyms:

 

  • Sorbus scandica (L.) Fr.
  • Sorbus suecica (L.) Krok & Almq.
  • Pyrus intermedia Ehrh (3)

 

 

Common names:

 

Trees provide cover: Birds and small animals need concealed places for nesting and hiding from predators. The presence of wildlife can make your backyard or woodlot a special place for your family and children. As urban sprawl displaces many birds and animals from their natural habitat, it becomes even more important for home and landowners to provide green space and mini-sanctuaries for birds and other wildlife.

Trees provide food: Having a wide variety of trees that provide seeds, nuts and fruit for wildlife to eat is one way to increase your success in attracting wildlife. although artificial bird feeders can supplement naturally occurring foods, they can attract unwanted pests such as pigeons, Canada geese, squirrels, and even rats. Trees also provide food by attracting insects and providing cover for their activities; mating, egg-laying. Insects form a huge portion of the warm-weather food supply for many species of songbirds. Trees that provide fall and winter foods are especially important in helping wildlife survive the winter, and to provide forage and cover for early-arriving spring migrants that may get caught in late-season bad weather. Whatever the food sources you provide may be, birds and wildlife also need dependable source of water; create a small pool or birdbath in a protected place.


Swedish Whitebeam Bark

References:
1. Cornell University Urban Horticulture Institute (.pdf)
2. USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program.
Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN)
[Online Database].
National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.

3. Royal Botanic Garden - Edinburgh


 

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