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Choose your climateBased on winter hardiness only.

Tree · Rosaceae family

Whitebeam

Sorbus aria

Full sun to part shade in a garden 13 ft 1½ in–16 ft 4⅞ in × 9 ft 10⅛ in–13 ft 1½ in Flowers May to −84 °F
Flower colors Click a color

In short a 10-second read

SunFull sun to part shade
in a garden after 10 years13 ft 1½ in–16 ft 4⅞ in
in the wild up to 39.4 ft
spacing 16 ft 4⅞ in
FlowersMay
PlantingMarch–April, October–November
WinterNo winter protection

Where to plant and how much to water

Sun, soil and water.

It grows best in full sun to part shade, in dry to average soil.

Sun

Sun6 hours or more
Part shade3–6 hours
Shadeunder 3 h

Soil

tolerates any pH
acidicneutralalkaline
dry to averageloamygravellysandy

Watering

drought tolerant once establishedonly in dry spellsless when it rains

Frost

−84 °F
no winter protectionleafless in winter

How much space it takes

Mature size.

The mature plant next to a person (69 in).

3 ft 3⅜ in6 ft 6¾ in9 ft 10⅛ in13 ft 1½ in16 ft 4⅞ in19 ft 8¼ in22 ft 11⅝ in26 ft 3 in29 ft 6⅜ in32.8 ft36.1 ft39.4 ft26 ft 3 in–39.4 ftspread 16 ft 4⅞ in–26 ft 3 in
26 ft 3 in–39.4 ft× spread 16 ft 4⅞ in–26 ft 3 in

Plant 16 ft 4⅞ in apart.

Reaches maturity in about 20–50 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.

Calendar

Through the year.

Typical for a temperate climate (four seasons). The line shows the current month.

The year at a glance

Flowers: JanuaryFlowers: FebruaryFlowers: MarchFlowers: AprilFlowers: MayFlowers: JuneFlowers: JulyFlowers: AugustFlowers: SeptemberFlowers: OctoberFlowers: NovemberFlowers: DecemberPlanting: JanuaryPlanting: FebruaryPlanting: MarchPlanting: AprilPlanting: MayPlanting: JunePlanting: JulyPlanting: AugustPlanting: SeptemberPlanting: OctoberPlanting: NovemberPlanting: DecemberFeeding: JanuaryFeeding: FebruaryFeeding: MarchFeeding: AprilFeeding: MayFeeding: JuneFeeding: JulyFeeding: AugustFeeding: SeptemberFeeding: OctoberFeeding: NovemberFeeding: DecemberJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
FlowersPlantingFeeding
Now, in October: a good time for planting (container plant, bare-root, root-balled).
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Flowers

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

May · white

Planting

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

container plant: March–April, October–November; bare-root: March–April, October–November; root-balled: March–April, October–November

Feeding

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

May–June

Feeding

Nutrition.

Horn meal

up to 0.18 oz/sq ft a year, if the soil needs it · May–June

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Pests and diseases

Common problems and what to do.

The most common problems in Central Europe. Protection is listed from the gentlest option.

High riskMedium riskLow riskRisk for this plant according to the source · no label = no documented level

Fire blight

Erwinia amylovora
Medium riskdiseasesource covers the whole genus
More about this problem

What you will see

Blossoms and shoots suddenly turn black and hang as if scorched, sticky white fluid oozes from the infections; sunken cankers form.

The source says: Sorbus trees are moderately susceptible to fire blight.

When to look

From late spring to fall

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Watch out for warm, damp springs; do not over-feed with nitrogen.
  2. By hand once detected; prune in winter dormancyCut out the infection 11¾–23½ in below the visible damage, expose the bark and check for brown staining; disinfect tools after every cut; burn the material.
  3. By hand after the main floweringRemove late secondary blossoms before they open.
Fire blightdisease · from late spring to fallMedium risk

What you will see

Blossoms and shoots suddenly turn black and hang as if scorched, sticky white fluid oozes from the infections; sunken cankers form.

The source says: Sorbus trees are moderately susceptible to fire blight.

When to look

From late spring to fall

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Watch out for warm, damp springs; do not over-feed with nitrogen.
  2. By hand once detected; prune in winter dormancyCut out the infection 11¾–23½ in below the visible damage, expose the bark and check for brown staining; disinfect tools after every cut; burn the material.
  3. By hand after the main floweringRemove late secondary blossoms before they open.
More about this problem

Apple scab

Venturia inaequalis
diseasesource covers the whole genus
More about this problem

What you will see

Leaf spots; can lead to heavy leaf drop.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Rake up fallen leaves.
  2. By hand fallRake up fallen leaves.
Apple scabdisease

What you will see

Leaf spots; can lead to heavy leaf drop.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Rake up fallen leaves.
  2. By hand fallRake up fallen leaves.
More about this problem

Mountain ash sawfly

pestsource covers the whole genus

What you will see

Greenish-white larvae with black dots eat the leaves in summer.

When to look

Summer

How to protect

  1. BiologicalSpinosad as authorized and per the label, while the larvae are feeding.
  2. Chemical — only when nothing else helpsOnly a product authorized in your country against the rowan sawfly (follow the label; only if other steps are not enough).
Mountain ash sawflypest · summer

What you will see

Greenish-white larvae with black dots eat the leaves in summer.

When to look

Summer

How to protect

  1. BiologicalSpinosad as authorized and per the label, while the larvae are feeding.
  2. Chemical — only when nothing else helpsOnly a product authorized in your country against the rowan sawfly (follow the label; only if other steps are not enough).

Woolly aphid

pestsource covers the whole genus

What you will see

Blue-white woolly colonies on leaves and branches; also knobbly outgrowths on roots and branches and a weakened tree.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Remove suckers at the base of the trunk and on main branches; cut off branches with colonies.
  2. Gentle spray start of bud breakHorticultural oil at the start of bud break can give good control; broad-spectrum insecticides harm natural enemies (Aphelinus mali).
Woolly aphidpest

What you will see

Blue-white woolly colonies on leaves and branches; also knobbly outgrowths on roots and branches and a weakened tree.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Remove suckers at the base of the trunk and on main branches; cut off branches with colonies.
  2. Gentle spray start of bud breakHorticultural oil at the start of bud break can give good control; broad-spectrum insecticides harm natural enemies (Aphelinus mali).
Sources (4)

Frequently asked

Quick answers.

When does whitebeam flower?

In May; the flowers are white.

Does whitebeam tolerate shade?

It tolerates part shade (3–6 hours of sun), but not full shade.

How much space does whitebeam need?

At maturity 16 ft 4⅞ in–26 ft 3 in wide and 26 ft 3 in–39.4 ft tall; recommended spacing 16 ft 4⅞ in.

Fire blight — what can you do?

Watch out for warm, damp springs; do not over-feed with nitrogen. Cut out the infection 11¾–23½ in below the visible damage, expose the bark and check for brown staining; disinfect tools after every cut; burn the material.

Apple scab — what can you do?

Rake up fallen leaves. Rake up fallen leaves.

Sources (13) Checked 24 October 2026

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