Sorbus gracilis

Sorbus gracilis is a deciduous shrub in the rose family, Rosaceae. It comes from central and southern Japan, where it grows in mountains. Its range includes Honshu, Kyushu and Shikoku. It is a plant of temperate regions. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. The shrub reaches about 6.6 feet [2 metres] in height. It loses its leaves for winter.

The flowers open in May and contain both male and female organs. Insects pollinate them. The fruit measures up to 0.4 inches [1 centimetre] across. Plants For A Future lists the fruit as edible, raw or cooked. It gives the plant a low food-use score of one out of five. The same source lists no known medicinal or other uses.

A sunny woodland edge is one suggested garden setting. Choose an open site with good soil for cultivation. The shrub accepts sandy, loamy and clay soils, provided water drains well. It prefers moist ground rather than a dry site. Acid soil suits it best, but neutral and mildly alkaline soils also work. It can also grow in very acid soil. Light shade is suitable, though sun helps it produce more fruit. It tolerates strong winds but does not suit exposed coastal sites. Plants For A Future lists USDA hardiness zones 5–9.

Fireblight is a disease risk for this shrub. Its edible fruit does not mean every part is safe. Plants For A Future warns that the seeds probably contain hydrogen cyanide. This is a possible hazard, not a confirmed seed analysis. Too much hydrogen cyanide can cause fatal breathing failure. The fruit's food-use listing should therefore remain separate from the seed warning.

Seed offers a way to raise new plants. Sow fresh seed in a cold frame once it ripens. Stored seed benefits from two warm weeks, then 14–16 cold weeks. Young plants make little top growth during their first year or two. During that time, they build their roots. Move seedlings into separate pots once they are large enough to handle. Keep them in a cold frame through their first winter. Plant them in their final sites in late spring.