Wildlife
- Feeds birds
- Small mammals
The orange-red berries persist into winter and are eaten by birds such as robins, waxwings and grosbeaks, plus small mammals.
Ships bare root
Native
Mature plant shown. Yours ships dormant and bare root.
What arrives
1 dormant bare-root plant, about 2–3 ft tall
- No leaves, no pot, no soil. Roots packed moist.
- Ships in your zone's planting window.
- Leafs out about 4–8 weeks after planting.
Native tree
American Mountain Ash
Sorbus americana
- Ships 2–3 ft tall
- 1 plant, bare root
- Zones 2–6
- Grows 15–30 ft
$11.95Was $14.95Save 20%
No reviews yet. Be the first to reviewThe quick answer
American mountain ash is a small native ornamental tree for cold climates, USDA zones 2-6, that grows 15-30 ft tall and 8-20 ft wide in full sun. It is planted for white spring flowers, bright orange-red berries that feed winter birds, and yellow to orange-red fall color. It needs cool summers and acidic, well-drained soil.
When it ships to you
Zone scheduleHow many?
plants
Free shipping on orders $75+$75
Healthy deliveryOr we replace it
Shipped dormantTimed to your zone
1-year warrantyStore credit, terms
American Mountain Ash plant profile
Mature size15–30 ft tall · 8–20 ft wide
Typical (15 ft)Up to 30 ft
Small tree with an open, rounded crown; grows slowly.
USDA hardiness zones2–6
Sun & growth
SlowMediumFast
Needs full sun; it is shade intolerant.
SoilpH 5.0–6.5
4 acidic6.59 alkaline
Needs moist, rich, well-drained soil; does poorly in heat and humidity.
Native to the USYellow to orange-red fall color
Flowers & fruit
Flat clusters of small white flowers in late spring are followed by clusters of bright orange-red berries that ripen in early fall and last into winter.
Leaves & fall color
Yellow to orange-red in fall. Pinnately compound leaves with narrow leaflets turn yellow to orange-red in fall.
Pests & disease
Fire blight can be serious; scab, cankers, borers, sawfly and scale may also occur.
Pruning
Prune in late winter only to remove dead or crossing branches; avoid pruning in wet spring weather, which spreads fire blight.
Bare root vs potted
Skip the garden-center markup.
Garden centers buy young plants, pot them, grow them another season and mark them up. We ship yours dormant and bare root, timed to your planting window.
Bare root, from us$11.95ships dormant
Example: 3-gal potted American hazelnut$70–$140online retail prices checked Oct 2026
A year with your American Mountain Ash
SPRINGFlat clusters of white flowers
SUMMERFeathery compound leaves; green berries
LATE SUMMERBerries ripen bright orange-red
FALLYellow to orange-red leaves; berries persist into winter
Questions people ask about American Mountain Ash
Is American mountain ash a true ash tree?
No. It is in the rose family, not the ash genus, so emerald ash borer does not attack it.
How big does American mountain ash get?
It is a small tree, usually 15-30 ft tall and 8-20 ft wide.
Can you eat mountain ash berries?
They are very sour and bitter raw and are mainly left for birds, though some people cook them into jelly.
Why is my mountain ash struggling?
It dislikes hot, humid summers and alkaline soil, and fire blight and borers often attack stressed trees, so plant it in a cool site with acidic, moist soil.
What arrives when I order a mountain ash?
A dormant bare-root tree about 2-3 ft tall, shipped without leaves for spring or fall planting.
Plant it in 4 steps
- Soak the roots in cold water overnight before planting.
- Dig twice as wide as the roots; plant at the depth it grew.
- Water, then mulch. No fertilizer the first season.
- Water regularly until it's established.
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Plant facts checked October 2026 against: NC State Extension, Utah State University, Iowa State University.