Swedish whitebeam is fairly uncommon in Exeter and easily mixed up with the common Whitebeam. ===
Sorbus intermedia, the Swedish whitebeam, is a species of whitebeam found in southern Sweden, with scattered occurrences in easternmost Denmark (Bornholm), the far southwest of Finland, Estonia, Latvia and northern Poland.
It is a medium-sized deciduous tree growing to 10–20 m tall with a stout trunk usually up to 60 cm, but sometimes as much as 2–3 m diameter,[citation needed] and grey bark; the crown is dome-shaped, with stout horizontal branches.
The leaves are green above, and densely hairy with pale grey-white hairs beneath, 7–12 cm long and 5–7 cm broad, with four to seven oval lobes on each side of the leaf, broadest near the middle, rounded at the apex, and finely serrated margins. The autumn colour is dull yellowish to grey-brown.
The flowers are 15–20 mm diameter, with five white petals and 20 yellowish-white stamens; they are produced in corymbs 8–12 cm diameter in late spring.
The fruit is an oval pome 15 mm long and 10 mm diameter, orange-red to red, maturing in mid autumn. The fruit is dryish, and eaten by thrushes and waxwings, which disperse the seeds.
Sorbus intermedia is a triple hybrid between S. aucuparia, S. torminalis, and either S. aria or one of its close relatives. It is closely related to Sorbus hybrida (Finnish whitebeam), another species of hybrid origin, which differs in having the leaves more deeply lobed, with the basal two pairs cut right to the midrib as separate leaflets. Both are tetraploid apomictic species which breed true without pollination.
height: 10 - 18 m (33 – 59 ft)
leaf: The leaves of Swedish whitebeam are ovate, 7 - 12 cm (2.8 - 4.7 in) long and 5 - 7 cm (2 – 2.8 in) broad and unevenly lobed. The leaf underside is slightly tomentose. The leaf margin is serrated.
leaf shape: ovoid
leaf margin: serrated
leaf position: alternate
fall foliage: dark bright yellow to red
flowering: May - June
blossom color: white
blossom description: The white flowers form luscious cymes.
gender distribution: monoecious / hermaphrodite
fruit: The apple-shaped, orange-red fruits are pea size.
branches: The branches are reddish brown. The buds are thick ovate, red-brown and pointed.
bark: The bark is gray-black and almost smooth.
root: Heart-rooting plant
location: Sun to slight shade
soil: sandy to strong loamy
ph value: neutral to strongly alkaline
usage: parks- and urban green, avenue tree (roadside green)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Sorbus
Subgenus: Aria
Species: S. intermedia
Binomial name
Sorbus intermedia
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