Swedish Whitebeam (aggregate) - Sorbus intermedia agg.

Description

A small or medium-sized tree, with leaves of variable shape but distinctly lobed in the lower part, usually a quarter or third of the way to the  midrib.  They have a greyish or whitish tomentose underside.  Flowers dull white in dense flattish heads. Berries orange or scarlet when ripe.

Similar Species

Sorbus aria agg. and Sorbus latifolia agg.

Identification difficulty
Recording advice

Photograph leaves and fruits

Habitat

Commonly planted in parks, gardens, streets, etc. 

UK Status

Rare as a native tree, but some species are commonly planted and naturalised.

Leicestershire & Rutland Status

Frequent as planted tree

Further Information

The species aggreagte includes the commonly planted Austrian Whitebeam (Sorbus austriaca) with bright red berries, and the Swedish Whitebeam (Sorbus intermedia) with reddish-orange berries.  Other species may also be present as planted individuals.  To identify to species, examination of the leaves and fruits of a specimen with reference to a key such as in Stace (4th edition) is needed.  It is best to record as a species aggregate. 

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Swedish Whitebeam (aggregate)
Species group:
flowering plant
Kingdom:
Plantae
Order:
Rosales
Family:
Rosaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
46
First record:
19/09/2007 (Calow, Graham)
Last record:
10/05/2026 (Mabbett, Craig)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

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Latest images

Latest records

Photo of the association

Parornix scoticella

The larva of the moth Parornix scoticella feeds on Rowan and Whitebeam and occasionally on Apple. A blotch is formed in the leaf which turns brown, and the larva pupates in a folded portion of the leaf.

Photo of the association

Bucculatrix bechsteinella

Bucculatrix bechsteinella is a small moth with a wingspan of 7 to 9 mm. It is pale buff with brown markings. The leafmine produced by the larva is usually on Hawthorn, and is small and in a vein axil, with blackish frass.  The exit gallery is clear, and angular in shape. 

Photo of the association

Pear Leaf Blister Moth

The larva of the Pear Leaf Blister Moth (Leucoptera malifoliella) makes a distinctive round blotch leafmine in a leaf of Apple, Hawthorn or Pear with a spiral frass pattern in concentric rings, sometimes several mines in one leaf.