Sorbus 'John Mitchell'

RHS Plant Profile
Tibetan whitebeam 'John Mitchell'

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Sorbus 'John Mitchell'?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants
Tibetan whitebeam 'John Mitchell' RHS 2001
Tibetan whitebeam 'John Mitchell' visionspictures.com

Synonyms

Sorbus 'Mitchellii'
Sorbus thibetica 'John Mitchell'
Sorbus aria 'Mitchellii'

Award of Garden Merit
Trees
Buy this from Plant Nurseries
12 Suppliers

A compact medium-sized deciduous tree with broadly rounded leaves up to 15cm in length, white-hairy when young, later glossy green above, white-hairy beneath. Creamy white flowers followed by brown fruits

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

Higher than 12 metres

Max Spread

wider than 8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
20–50 years
Max Spread
wider than 8 metres
Max Height
Higher than 12 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH
Acid or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing or East–facing or North–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H6

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Rosaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
Potentially harmful
Fruit are ornamentalnot to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Fruit are ornamentalnot to be eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
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
Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile, humus-rich soil. Tolerant of atmospheric pollution

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings in early summer, chip budding in summer or grafting in winter

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