Common Whitebeam - Sorbus aria agg.

Whitebeams comprise a very complex group of species and hybrids, many of which are rare native species.  The species and several hybrids or cultivated varieties are commonly planted in parks, gardens and streets.   

The leaves in the Sorbus aria aggregate are toothed, and may be shallowly lobed.   The leaf undersides are densely tomentose - i.e. covered in short, white or greyish woolly and matted hairs.  The fruits are scarlet to crimson. 

Sorbus latifolia agg. and Sorbus intermedia agg. are commonly planted.  They differ in leaf-shape and colour of berries.

Photograph leaves, including undersides, and fruits

Woods and scrub on calcareous soils as a native species, but widely planted in parks, gardens and roadside verges and often bird-sown and naturalised.

Uncommon as a native species in Leicestershire and Rutland but very often planted and naturalised.

Identifying Whitebeams is difficult due to hybridisation and the presence of planted and naturalised cultivated varieties and hybrids.  Examination of leaves and fruits of a specimen with reference to a key such as Stace 4th edition is usually needed to identify to species; they are therefore best recorded as species aggregates.