Sorbus aria, Whitebeam

Sorbus aria or Common Whitebeam is medium-sized deciduous tree with a domed crown and smooth and grey bark, which sometimes can also be ridged.

This particular tree is located in a very well maintained small community garden in Hulme. It is enjoying the lack of competition on the empty site of the path, because on the other site it is a bit packed. The tree receives a lot of sunlight and the soil underneath looks moist but not damp.

The tree leaves are simple and oval, up to 12 cm long toothed or shallowly lobed at margins and very hairy, especially on the white underside. When the leaves first open the tree looks white from a distance but gradually it become greener as the upper surface turned down and loose its white hairy cover.

The Whitebeam flowers in May with flowers in stock clusters and fruits in September with small red fruits covered with many small lenticels.