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Last week I wrote our native Mountain ash (Sorbus aucuparia); this week it's the turn of that other native, sorbus hibernica, also known as the Whitebeam, or as Gaeilge, 'an fioncholl'. Our Whitebeam is a small-sized deciduous tree, growing eventually to a height of 12 metres and a canopy spread of eight metres.
You may have to do quite a bit of searching throughout Ireland to find mature examples of this tree, as it is a threatened variety, very scattered in its distribution. The prime examples of its occurrence can be seen within the midlands of Ireland.
If you are up for a hunt, the places to search for specimens are usually quite rocky, as it tends to do well on a chalky, quick draining soil. So, visit a rocky hill or glen from May to September, as this is the best time to spot sorbus hibernica occurring - when it is in full leaf often supplemented by flower or fruit.
The first thing that will strike you about our native Whitebeam is its foliage covering. These stalk-less leaves are silvery white on top with a thick covering of white downy hairs on the undersides. Both sides of the leaves when blown by the wind give the impression of a white or pale tree. Even before the leaves unfurl, they break from the bud standing tightly bound and upright like many white candles on a candelabra.
Because of these pale tones, I always had a liking for the Whitebeam, as it tended to break up the monotony of so many green leaved trees within a site, often acting as an attention grabbing focal point. In addition to the interesting colour of the foliage, it also has a sharp textural element, stemming from the sharp looking teeth edging all along the borders of the oval (8cm) leaves.
The leaves are joined from May to June by flat-topped clusters of small white flowers, which I feel are quite inconspicuous due to the camouflaging effect of the foliage. This is not the case with the following berries, however, as these are a red, deepening to scarlet when ripe from September to October. We must not forget, of course, the supporting act for all this fine foliage, flower and fruit. It is of course the trees well defined, smooth-grey trunk, yet another valid reason why it was landed with its common name.
As with most of the native trees I have covered over the past few weeks, this tree is another tough hardy individual. Whitebeams tolerance of exposed conditions is shown by its occurrence along certain parts of the Antrim Coast.
Trying to find a few specimens of sorbus hibernica in your local garden centre or nursery can often be a fruitless exercise, as it is rarely commercially available. In this case you can plant sorbus aria. This is a close relative whose main differences are the teeth of its leaf-margins are swept upwards and it has fewer hairs on the underside of its leaves.
However, if you press your garden centre they will surely be able to source some sorbus hibernica for you, although you may have to wait until the next dormant planting season (mid-October to mid-March). It will be worth the wait. Until next week, happy gardening and remember that a weed is just a plant in the wrong place.
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