California Mountain Ash
Sorbus californica
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Genus:
- Sorbus
- Species:
- Sorbus californica
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub
- Height:
- 12-20 ft
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- mar, apr, may
- Bloom Colors:
- White
Native Range
United States: California, Nevada, Oregon
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★☆☆☆ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Acronicta superans, Barnes' dagger moth (Acronicta barnesii), Ceranemota crumbi, Radcliffe's dagger moth (Acronicta radcliffei), Western tent caterpillar (Malacosoma californica)
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- well-drained, rocky or sandy loam
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to mountainous regions, prefers open slopes
Germination Information
Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).; then Cold-moist stratification for 60 days.
Source: OpenAI GPT-4o