Swedish whitebeam

Scientific name: Sorbus intermedia

Family: Rosaceae

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Origin: non-native - originally from Scandinavia and the Baltics but now long-established in UK

Maximum height: 15 metres

Lives for: up to 50 years

The Swedish whitebeam is more common in Sweden than anywhere else. The species arose as a spontaneous hybrid, which has occurred many times, between rowan and common whitebeam. It has strong smelling flowers that attract a range of insect pollinators including butterflies, bees and flies. Their berries ripen to orange-red and are eaten by birds, who disperse the seeds.