Whitebeam Trees - Sorbus aria Lutescens

Standard Trees - Sorbus Lutescens

Sorbus aria Lutescens doesn't really live up to its name, which implies that it is golden yellow. Its mature foliage is distinctly lemon and lime and a bit patchy at that. Otherwise, this hardy, reliable tree has all the same characteristics as Common Whitebeam. It is a native, medium sized, deciduous tree that has a naturally upright and rounded canopy. Sorbus aria Lutescens' best features are the silvery grey hairs that cover their new leaves and which remain on the underside of the mature leaf - this is why they are called Whitebeam. Sometimes the hairs stay on the leaf longer than normal, giving it a frosted appearance all over. The early foilage can be really gorgeous in strong sunlight, as the hairs reflect the light well and shine like silver. Sorbus Lutescens produces panicles or flattened clusters of simple yellowy-white flowers in late spring, which become green berries that ripen into a shiny red by September and get eaten by a range of bird species.

The strength of these trees is their tolerance of a wide range of soil types and their resistance to drought. Sorbus aria Lutescens will thrive on the coast and wind blasted sites, it is also quite happy in the city. Its timber is extremely hard and surprisingly light, it also has a lovely two tone effect with reddish heartwood and white outer rings that look great when used to make a flat surface. If you are going to plant several Whitebeams in one area, mixing in some Lutescens will create a more varied, natural looking group.

Planting Sorbus aria Lutescens

As long as the soil is well drained and reasonably fertile, Sorbus Lutescens will love it. That includes chalk, heavy clay and sandstone. You can plant it on the coast, exposed ridges and frosty dips, in partial shade or beside a road. It is a fairly fast growing tree, reaching an adult height of about 15 metres, 50 feet.

If you are unclear about the way standard trees are sized, take a look at our Guide to Standard Tree Sizing or you can go back to our main standard trees page.