Torminalis glaberrima aka Elsbeere

Torminalis glaberrima belongs to the rose family. It is deciduous: it sheds its leaves each year. Garden sources also use the name Sorbus torminalis. People call it wild service tree or chequer tree. It grows wild across Europe, western Asia, and northwestern Africa. Britain and Ireland form part of its native range. It grows in woods on clay and some limestone sites.

Sources give a range of sizes for garden trees. RHS gives heights of 26–39 feet [8–12 metres]. Missouri Botanical Garden gives 50–70 feet [15.2–21.3 metres]. The crown can reach 26–50 feet [8–15.2 metres] wide. Branches grow upward to form a round crown. The bark is shaggy. Broad, dark green leaves have pinnate lobes. Soft down coats their undersides. Their shape looks like that of maple leaves. Leaves turn yellow, orange, and red in autumn, then fall. The tree can send up many suckers near its base.

White flowers open from May to June in loose corymbs. Each has five petals and many white stamens. Small brown pomes with speckles follow the blooms. These fruits ripen in autumn and draw birds. They also add interest as the seasons change. PFAF lists them as safe to eat raw or cooked. It says frost makes them sweeter. So does bletting in cool, dry storage. Yet RHS warns people and pets not to eat the fruit. PFAF warns that seeds may contain hydrogen cyanide. These sources disagree, so take care. Do not assume all parts of the fruit are safe.

Grow the tree in sun or part shade. It suits soil rich in humus, with a fair nutrient level. The soil must drain well. Moist soil helps it grow. Once trees take root, they can cope with dry spells. RHS lists acid, neutral, and alkaline soils as suitable. Cool summers suit it best. Heat and damp air in the deep South limit growth. Missouri Botanical Garden gives USDA zones 6–7; RHS rates it H6. Prune as needed from late autumn through early spring. Raise new plants from seed, softwood cuttings, or by grafting.

Its crown suits use as a lawn specimen or shade tree. Blooms, fruit, and autumn leaves add interest in wildlife gardens. Its heavy wood has a fine grain. It suits carving and turning. Fireblight can cause great harm, with scorched branch tips. Other possible diseases are cankers, scab, rust, and powdery mildew. RHS also lists silver leaf and honey fungus. Aphids, scale insects, sawfly larvae, and mites may attack it. Trees under stress face more risk from cankers and borers.