Aria edulis

Whitebeam

Species Tolerances

  • Drought Tolerance: High
  • Shade Tolerance: No
  • Waterlogging Tolerance: Low
  • Frost Tolerance (trees from warmer climates may be frost tolerant, but their flowers may not be): Yes
  • RHS Hardiness: H6
  • Optimum Conditions for Growth:
    (Synonym Sorbus aria) A medium sized tree that prefers very alkaline soils such as on chalk and limestone, as with other Sorbus species, an alkaline soil >pH7. Also tolerates neutral -alkaline and shallow calcereous soils. Drought tolerant, currently distributed mainly in southern regions.
  • Susceptibility to Pest/Disease:
    No major pests or diseases at present

(Sorbus aria s. str.) bei Wiesensteig (Schwäbische Alb)/ Steffen Hammel/ https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en

Service to Pollinators

  • Summary of Service to Pollinators:
    Masses of flowers worked freely for nectar and pollen in early summer.
  • Nectar Value to Pollinators: 3 (of 0-3)
  • Honeydew Value to Pollinators: 0 (of 0-3)
  • Pollen Value to Bees: 3 (of 0-3)
  • Flowering Period: May

Risks

  • Human Toxicity: Non-toxic
  • Livestock Toxicity: Non-toxic
  • Invasive Risk: No
  • Suckering: Yes

Products

  • Edible Fruit: Yes
  • Edible Leaves: No
  • Edible Sap: No
  • Edible Seeds: No
  • Honey, major source in UK: Yes
  • For any medicinal potential, see 'Further Details' below.
  • Timber: Yes
  • Livestock Fodder: Yes
  • Other Products:
    Timber is hard, heavy and fine-grained though slow growth rate has limited its use in forestry

Utility

  • Nitrogen Fixation: No
  • Organic Matter Accumulation: Yes
  • Phytoremediation: Insufficient Data
  • Deacidification: Insufficient Data
  • Windbreak: No
  • Soil Erosion Control: Yes
  • Shade or Shelter: Yes
  • Plant Support: Insufficient Data
  • Integrated Pest Management: Insufficient Data
  • Wildlife Value: Yes
  • Wildlife Value Summary:
    Berries are available to a large range of birds and mammals.
  • Graduated Nativeness Classification
    ⓘ
    1. Historic Native
    2. Historic Introduction
    9. Neutral Introduction
    : 1 (of 1-10)

Further Details

    Synonym Sorbus aria. Good for biodiversity. Timber is hard, heavy, and fine grained though slow growth rate. Occasionally known to sucker from its roots, though manageable.