Greene's Mountain Ash
Sorbus scopulina
Also known as: Arizona Mountain Ash
- Native to:
- Canada, United States
Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Genus:
- Sorbus
- Species:
- Sorbus scopulina
- USDA Symbol:
- SOSC2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 400 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun,Part Shade,Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul
- Bloom Colors:
- white, cream
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Fall Color:
- red, orange, yellow
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from root crown following fire. Often colonizes burned or disturbed sites in montane forests.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rocky, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- prefers open, sunny locations in mountainous regions
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 90–120 days
- Germination Time:
- 30–90 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require cold stratification; germination can be erratic. Fresh seed germinates best.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds are treated with 1,000 ppm gibberellic acid for 24 hours, followed by a 3:1 water/hydrogen peroxide soak for 10 minutes, and a 24 hour running water rinse. A 90 to 120 day cold, moist stratification is needed to break dormancy. Seeds are placed in fine mesh bags and buried in moistened peat moss in ventilated containers under refrigeration at 1 to 3C.
Establishment: There are variations in germination rates and times based on the age of the seeds. One-year-old seeds yielded a higher germination rate (61%) compared to a 3-year-old seed lot (25%). Germination time is also quicker for one-year-old seeds (20 days) compared to three-year-old seeds (21 days).
Source: npn.rngr.net
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Place on damp paper towel in plastic bag for 6 weeks in fridge - should germinate in cold