Sorbus intermedia Brouwers

The Sorbus intermedia 'Brouwers' is a variety of Swedish Whitebeam with relatively slow, more regular growth and dense branching. It blooms in spring, producing large panicles of white flowers that produce decorative orange fruits until October. Its deciduous leaves are simple lobed, with a shiny green colour and a whitish underside, turning orange-yellow in autumn. Indifferent to soil type, very hardy, and resistant to summer drought and coastal winds, it is an excellent ornamental or alignment tree that will find its place in many gardens.

The Sorbus intermedia belongs to the Rosaceae family. This tree, native to Northern Europe, also known as Swedish Whitebeam or Scandinavian Mountain Ash, is still relatively unknown. Accustomed to the intense cold of its original geographical zone, it is a perfectly hardy plant (down to -25°C (1°F)).

'Brouwers' is a rather old selection (1956) by Dutch nurserymen. Its annual growth is slower, about 30 cm (12in) in height and 15-20 cm (6-8in) in width. As a result, its growth is more regular, and its vegetation denser. It is a good alignment tree for cities, so it is generally trained as a standard with a somewhat upright, more or less pyramidal habit in its juvenile stage. With age, it tends to widen and take on an ovoid habit, forming a medium-sized tree (about ten metres high at maturity, with a width of 4 to 8 metres (13 to 26 feet)). The 'Brouwers' Whitebeam presents the same decorative characteristics as the species from which it originates. Its simple, slightly lobed leaves (5 to 9 lobes) are dark green, somewhat shiny on the upper side, with a whitish underside. Its flowering in May-June consists of numerous fragrant white flowers in large umbels about fifteen cm in diameter. These then develop into small decorative fruits about 7-8 mm (1in) in diameter, of a beautiful orange colour, present on the tree from late August to October. The leaves turn a beautiful yellow-to-orange colour in autumn before falling to the ground. The dark grey bark remains glabrous for many years but eventually flakes (peels off in strips, like cinnamon trees).

This beautiful ornamental tree from spring to autumn is easy to grow, as it is highly adaptable to various soil conditions. Its moderate growth (up to 10 to 14 metres (33 to 46 feet) at maturity) is suitable for medium-sized gardens and larger spaces.

This Brouwers Whitebeam can be planted as a specimen tree in a short grass meadow, alignment or association with other trees with autumnal colours, such as the magnificent Persian Ironwood. It also makes a good background for flower beds with shrubs at its base, such as Smoke Bush, which, like it, blooms in spring and has stunning autumn colours. The Clerodendrum trichotomum, despite its many qualities, is rare and will be an excellent companion. Its late flowering (end of summer) will succeed that of the 'Brouwers' whitebeam, accompanying its fruits until October, before giving way to a magnificent fruiting: deep blue pearls set in bright pink stars!