Not the plant you're looking for? Search over 300,000 plants

Sorbus wardii

Tibetan whitebeam

A deciduous, columnar tree to 10m tall that becomes more rounded and spreading with age. The ribbed, elliptic to obovate leaves are silvery-grey and downy when young maturing to green with sparsely hairy undersides. Small clusters of creamy-white flowers in spring are followed by rounded, amber-orange fruits speckled greyish-brown, to 12mm in diameter

Synonyms
Sorbus thibetica misapplied
Buy this plant
Size
Ultimate height
8–12 metres
Time to ultimate height
20–50 years
Ultimate spread
4–8 metres
Growing conditions
Clay
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drained
pH
Acid, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Cream White Grey Silver Green
Summer Green
Autumn Green Brown Orange
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade
Aspect

South–facing or North–facing or West–facing or East–facing

Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness
H6
Botanical details
Family
Rosaceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Columnar upright
Potentially harmful
Fruit are ornamental - not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Genus

Sorbus can be deciduous trees or shrubs with simple or pinnate leaves and clusters of small white or pink flowers, followed by white, yellow, pink, red or brown berries; some have fine autumn colour

Name status

Correct

Plant range
N Burma & NE India

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile, humus-rich soil

Propagation

Propagate by seed or by softwood cuttings in early summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Low Maintenance
Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, scale insects, pear blister mite, red spider mite and sawfly larvae

Diseases

May be susceptible to fireblight, apple canker, silver leaf and honey fungus

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.