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Joseph Rock

Sorbus

'Joseph Rock' is an excellent choice if you are loooking for a rowan tree to fit in a smaller space. It is widely considered one of the best of the small rowans, with an elegant appearance, reaching perhaps 4m after 10 years.

Clusters of white flowers appear in late May, followed by dense fruitlets which turn from white to golden yellow as autumn progresses.

It is one of the best rowans for autumn colour, with the leaves often attaining a flame red colour - contrasting attractively with the bright yellow fruitlets.

Joseph Rock rowan trees for sale

All our pot-grown trees are grown for us to our specification by the Frank P Matthews nursery.

All pot-grown trees are suitable for planting out in the garden, some are suitable for growing in containers.

  • 11-year bare-root tree £44.50
    Large size (3m-5m after 10 years)
    Out of stock
    Sorry we have sold out for this season
  • 22-year pot-grown tree £71.95
    Grown for us by Frank P Matthews nursery
    In a 12L pot
    Large size (3m-5m after 10 years)
Next deliveries

Order now for delivery from week commencing 10th February.

How to grow

'Joseph Rock' is easy to grow and is a great tree for a small garden. It is susceptible to fireblight - but this is not usually an issue in the UK climate.

History

'Joseph Rock' is named after Dr Joseph Rock of the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh, and is thought to have come from seeds collected on an expedition to China in the 1930s. The original tree still stands in the gardens of RHS Wisley.

Joseph Rock characteristics

  • Gardening skillBeginner
  • AwardsRHS 1st class - 1962RHS AGM (former) - 1993
  • Attractive featuresAttractive fruitAutumn foliage colour
  • Growth habitUpright-spreading / Vase
  • Height after 10 years3m-5m / 10ft-16ft
  • PruningLight prune
  • Site conditionsCoastal siteOccasional flooding
  • WildlifeAttractive to birds
  • Flower colourWhite
  • Flowering monthMayJune
  • Leaf colourGreen
  • Leaf colour - autumnOrange / Red
  • Fruit colourYellow
  • Fruit persistencePersistent
  • Country of originChina
  • Annual cycleDeciduous

Similar varieties

  • See also Autumn Spire
    Sorbus aucuparia
    Autumn Spire
    Autumn Spire (Flanrock) is a columnar rowan with yellow fruitlets and excellent autumn colour.
  • Sorbus
    Copper Kettle
    Named for its attractive light copper-coloured fruitlets, Copper Kettle is easy to grow and takes up little space.
  • Sorbus
    Sunshine
    A small rowan tree with an upright form and golden yellow clusters of fruits, and strong autumn colours.

What will it look like?

Illustrative example of a pot-grown tree of this variety as supplied. Approximate girth: 6/8cm. We try to keep all pot-grown trees down to about 1.5m as supplied, but some may be larger. Trees should reach their mature height after about 10 or more years. We may also have 1-year bare-root trees of this variety - they are not shown here.

Sorbus Joseph Rock

How to choose a Rowan or Whitebeam tree

We list more than 50 Sorbus (rowan and whitebeam) trees. Choosing can be difficult! Our article explaining the different berry and leaf colours might help narrow down the selection.

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