Habitat

• native to northern Europe and Asia
• zone 3

Habit and Form

• a small to medium-sized, deciduous tree
• typically 20' to 40' tall
• shape is ovate to rounded
• branching is strongly upright and spreading
• main trunk is often short, becoming very multi-branched

Summer Foliage

• leaves are alternately arranged
• pinnately compound
• 5" to 9" long
• 9 to 15 leaflets is most common
• leaflets are .75" to 2.5" long with a pointed oval shape
• margins of leaflets are serrated toward the tips
• dark green above, frosty green below

Autumn Foliage

• leaves change from green to yellow to orange to somewhat reddish
• can be showy or disappointing

Flowers

• blooms in May
• rounded, flat-topped clusters
• white color
• malodorous
• individual flowers only 0.33" across.
• relatively showy, but not spectacular

Fruit

• small, orange-red fruits
• 0.25" to 0.38" diameter
• born in terminal clusters that ripen in late August and September
• fruit is quite attractive
• birds like to eat the fruit

Bark

• color is light grayish brown
• generally smooth, but somewhat roughened on older trunks
• relatively attractive

Culture

• prefers cool to cold climates best
• likes well-drained, loamy acidic soils
• avoid high pH soils
• avoid hot, dry locations
• avoid compacted soils and pollution
• full sun

Landscape Uses

• excellent for effect in fruit
• good performer in cold climates
• as a smaller shade tree
• fruits attract birds
• specimen

Liabilities

• stress predisposes the plant to disease and insect problems
• very susceptible to borers
• frequently develops fire blight
• other insect and disease pests include cankers, rusts, aphids, sawflies, and scales
• often short-lived in the landscape

ID Features

• very large terminal buds
• smooth bark
• short main trunk dividing into multiple trunks
• upright oval branching
• pinnately compound leaves
• a dark band is beneath each leaf scar
• white flowers in flat clusters
• orange red fruit in terminal clusters

Propagation

• by seed
• cultivars generally grafted

Cultivars/Varieties

'Asplenifolia' - A selection for more incised leaflets, this plant does not differ markedly from the species.

'Fastigiata' - This is an upright form with coarse, ascending branches. It produces red fruit and dark green foliage

'Michred' (Cardinal Royal™) - This is perhaps the most common commercial selection. A introduction out of Michigan, the plant is a vigorous symmetrical grower to 30' tall and 20' wide. The habit is upright-oval and the plant bears profuse red fruit amidst glossy green foliage (silvery beneath).

'Pendula' - A novelty form that is not widely available, this plant has drooping branches that are not regular or very graceful. It grows to 20' tall and fruits well.

'Xanthocarpa' -Notable for its yellow-orange fruit, this selection is otherwise similar to the species. 'Brilliant Yellow' is a named selection with yellow fruit on a oval tree 30' tall with a spread of 20'.