Whitebeam is native to the South of the UK and is widely planted in green spaces and streets. There are quite a few cultivars and hybrids which can make getting a solid ID on a specific Whitebeam tree quite tricky. Two of the most widely planted cultivars are 'Lutescens' and also 'Majestica'. Rowan and Service trees are in the same family and have been know to hybradise with relative ease. The Bristol Whitebeam (Sorbus 'bristoliensis Wilmott') is one of the rarer ones and can only be found on the cliffs in the Avon Gorge of Bristol.
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It is a slow growing, deciduous tree and capable of growing to heights of up to 25m. In most cases it is usually between 10m to 15m as they are typically managed as 'small trees' - espeically along roadsides. Althought it is widely planted and found across the public green spaces and streets it is quite rare in the wild. The lifespan is usually around 80 years. The growth habit is usually a single stem with a compact and domed crown. It is also known as chess apple, quickbeam, and white hazel.
ENTIRE TREE
BARK & TRUNK
The bark is smooth and  grey and often covered with lichen such as Caloplaca alociza. On older trees the bark will be slightly fissured. The trunk of the tree can reach up to 3m in diameter although this is quite rare and typically does not exceed 1m. Mistloetoe is occasionaly found on the branches.
CANOPY
CROWN
The buds are thick and ovoid with a mixture of red and green. The young twigs are grey and green and have patches of fine white downy hairs.
BRANCHES & TWIGS
LEAVES
The leaves are dark green above, and densely hairy with pale grey-white hairs on the underside. The leaves are usually 8–12 cm long and 5–7 cm wide with oval to elliptical, toothed margins. During the autumn time the leaf colour is dull yellowish to grey-brown. The flowers are insect pollinated and are 15–20 mm in diameter with five white petals. They are tightly grouped together in what are called 'corymbs'  and are around 10cm in diameter. The best time to see them in flower is May. Whitebeam is hermaphrodite which means each flower contains both male and female reproductive parts.
FLOWERS
FRUIT
The fruit is an oval pome which is pea sized. As the fruit matures it turns from green to a bright orange / red. The best time to see these lovely colours are between August and September. Birds such as thrushes and waxwings will happily gobble up the fruit and disperse the seeds later on. The fruit is less juicy than that of Rowan which has similar features. Inside the center of the fruit (pome) are small black seeds. Occasionallysome of the fruit is not eaten in the summer and remains on the tree throughout the winter and they will become black and shrivelled.
BUDS
GROUND LITTER
The timber of Whitebeam is fine-grained, hard and white. The uses include axe handles, machine cogs, chairs, beams, wood turning to name a few.  When wet the wood is a deep orange colour and after drying it is pale yellow. The sapwood cannot be distinguished from the heartwood. After a bletting process the fruit can be used to make jellys and jams. The Anglo-Saxons were known to used whitebeam as a boundary markers. The wood of Whitebeam was believed to have magical powers so wands and staffs were often made out of Whitebeam wood. In Upper Normandy, the whitebeam is a protected species. 
OTHER USEFUL DATA
Picture
Zelimir Borzan, University of Zagreb, Bugwood.org
Picture
The Biodiversity Heritage Library
Picture
Metropolitan Museum of Art, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Picture
Will's cigarettes tree card - credit to cigcardpix via Flickr
Picture
Will's cigarettes tree card - credit to cigcardpix via Flickr
Picture
Gallaher's cigarettes tree card - credit to cigcardpix via Flickr
Picture
Rington's tea (scanned from personal collection)
Picture
Priory tea (scanned from personal collection)
Picture
Dollisdale tea (scanned from personal collection)
Picture
Carbon performance certificate by Treeconomics for Barcham Pro Trees
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Carbon capture data by Treeconomics for Barcham Pro Trees
OTHER USEFUL RESOURCES
QUICK FACTS
  • ​Whitebeam is native to the South of the UK and is widely planted in green spaces and streets.
  • There are quite a few cultivars and hybrids which can make getting a solid ID on a specific Whitebeam tree quite tricky.
  • Two of the most widely planted cultivars are 'Lutescens' and also 'Majestica.
  • Rowan and Service trees are in the same family and have been know to hybradise with relative ease.
  • The Bristol Whitebeam (Sorbus 'bristoliensis Wilmott') is one of the rarer ones and can only be found on the cliffs in the Avon Gorge of Bristol.
  • ​It is a slow growing, deciduous tree and capable of growing to heights of up to 25m.
  • In most cases it is usually between 10m to 15m as they are typically managed as 'small trees' - espeically along roadsides.
  • Althought it is widely planted and found across the public green spaces and streets it is quite rare in the wild.
  • The lifespan is usually around 80 years.
  • The growth habit is usually a single stem with a compact and domed crown.
  • It is also known as chess apple, quickbeam, and white hazel.
  • The bark is smooth and  grey and often covered with lichen such as Caloplaca alociza.
  • On older trees the bark will be slightly fissured. 
  • The trunk of the tree can reach up to 3m in diameter although this is quite rare and typically does not exceed 1m. 
  • Mistloetoe is occasionaly found on the branches.
  • ​The buds are egg shaped with a point and a mixture of red and green as well as being slightly hairy.
  • The young twigs are grey and green and have patches of fine white downy hairs.
  • The leaves are dark green above, and densely hairy with pale grey-white hairs on the underside.
  • The leaves are usually 8–12 cm long and 5–7 cm wide with oval to elliptical, toothed margins.
  • During the autumn time the leaf colour is dull yellowish to grey-brown. 
  • The flowers are insect pollinated and are 15–20 mm in diameter with five white petals.
  • They are tightly grouped together in what are called 'corymbs'  and are around 10cm in diameter.
  • The best time to see them in flower is May. 
  • ​Whitebeam is hermaphrodite which means each flower contains both male and female reproductive parts.
  • The fruit is an oval pome which is pea sized.
  • As the fruit matures it turns from green to a bright orange / red.
  • The best time to see these lovely colours are between August and September.
  • Birds such as thrushes and waxwings will happily gobble up the fruit and disperse the seeds later on.
  • The fruit is less juicy than that of Rowan which has similar features.
  • Inside the center of the fruit (pome) are small black seeds.
  • Occasionallysome of the fruit is not eaten in the summer and remains on the tree throughout the winter and they will become black and shrivelled.
  • The timber of Whitebeam is fine-grained, hard and white.
  • The uses include axe handles, machine cogs, chairs, beams, wood turning to name a few. 
  • When wet the wood is a deep orange colour and after drying it is pale yellow. 
  • The sapwood cannot be distinguished from the heartwood.
  • After a bletting process the fruit can be used to make jellys and jams. 
  • The Anglo-Saxons were known to used whitebeam as a boundary markers.
  • The wood of Whitebeam was believed to have magical powers so wands and staffs were often made out of Whitebeam wood. 
  • In Upper Normandy, the whitebeam is a protected species. 
  • Whitebeam symbolises tenacity, endurance, and perseverance.
  • The wood also makes very good charcoal.
SIMILAR LOOKING TREES
ROWAN
SWEDISH WHITEBEAM
WILD SERVICE TREE
PLEASE LEAF ME ANY FEEDBACK / COMMENTS
If there is anything out of place or wrong please contact me. Equally if there is anything you wish to add please let me know. The more information we have about Whitebeam the better. Many thanks!