American Mountain Ash
Sorbus americana
- Native to:
- Canada, Prince Edward I., United States
Douglas Goldman
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Genus:
- Sorbus
- Species:
- Sorbus americana
- USDA Symbol:
- SOAM3
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 900 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun,Part Shade,Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun
- Bloom Colors:
- white
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★★★☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Acrobasis tricolorella, Acronicta superans, American Dagger Moth (Acronicta americana), American plum borer (Euzophera semifuneralis), Ash Borer (Podosesia syringae), blackthorn dagger (Acronicta pruni), Brown-tail moth (Euproctis chrysorrhoea), Cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia), clear dagger moth (Acronicta clarescens), Comptaria Wave (Venusia comptaria), Eastern Tent Caterpillar (Malacosoma americana), fragile dagger moth (Acronicta fragilis), Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), Interrupted Dagger Moth (Acronicta interrupta), pear clearwing moth (Synanthedon pyri), Phyllonorycter crataegella, Rusty Tussock Moth (Orgyia antiqua), Welsh wave (Venusia cambrica), white spring moth (Lomographa vestaliata), Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Fall Color:
- red, orange, yellow
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Can resprout from the root crown following fire. Found in fire-prone boreal and montane habitats.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- moist, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 4.5 - 6.5 (acidic to slightly acidic)
- Drainage:
- good drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers cool, moist environments
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 60–120 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require cold stratification. Fresh seed germinates better than stored seed.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).; then Cold-moist stratification for 60 days.
Source: Claude AI
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow @ 4C for 3 months, then place @ 20C for 3 months. Requires darkness.