Sorbus aria seed

LATIN NAME: Sorbus aria

COMMON NAME: Whitebeam

The whitebeam dusts the crown with the white, felted undersides of the broad, oval leaves, the clusters of the creamy flowers in the late spring, and the scarlet berries that ripen through the autumn. The leaf tops stay glossy green while the undersides flash silver in the wind, the bark keeps the smooth, grey tone, and the whole tree carries the neat, rounded shape of the woodland-edge tree. The berries hang in the bright bunches, the birds take them fast, and the foliage gives the garden the two-tone shimmer that few other trees match. It likes the sun, the chalky soil, and the open, well-drained ground.

Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology

The taxonomists have long been fascinated by the whitebeam group, where the apomixis produces a tangle of the micro-species that defy the easy classification, and the Sorbus aria sits at the centre of that puzzle. The studies cover the seed biology, how the different forms arise, and the chemistry of the berries and the bark. The breeders select the garden forms for the good shape and the bright fruit, the conservationists watch the rarer relatives, and the species performs well in the street-tree trials for the tidy habit and the tough constitution.

Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications

For the gardener, the whitebeam earns notice for the two-tone foliage, glossy green above and silver below, that flashes in the wind, and for the scarlet berries that feed the thrushes and the waxwings through the late autumn. The hard, fine-grained wood once served the turners and the cabinet makers, and the tree itself makes the dependable avenue or the street planting on the tough, chalky sites. It asks little and gives the year its structure.

The whitebeam seeds germinate well in a gritty, sandy soil kept moist in the cool shade. The seedlings rise with the broad, downy leaves, and they grow on steadily through the summer. They are tough and adaptable, and they take the chalky ground without the fuss. Plant them out in the open, sunny spot, and stake them while the young stems settle. The silver-backed leaves come early, and the bright berries follow within the few years.

To grow the whitebeam from seed, sow the small, hard seeds directly into the shallow flat of gritty, sandy soil, keep the flat in the cool, bright spot and water gently. The seedlings rise within a few weeks, and they grow on steadily. Place the young trees in the open, sunny site, and the silver-backed crown will flash through the summer.