# Sitka Mountain-Ash (*Sorbus sitchensis*) The Sitka Mountain-Ash is a beautiful tree with bright orange berries. It grows in cool, moist places and is loved by birds who eat its tasty fruits! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Mountain regions ![Sitka Mountain-Ash](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Sorbus_sitchensis_7147.JPG&width=800) Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sorbus_sitchensis_7147.JPG) ## Appearance The Sitka Mountain-Ash has beautiful clusters of small, five-petaled white flowers in spring, followed by bright orange-red berries that persist into winter. Its distinctive compound leaves are long and narrow, turning vibrant shades of yellow and red in autumn. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Rosales - **Family:** Rosaceae - **Genus:** Sorbus ## Interesting facts - Despite its name, the Sitka Mountain-Ash is actually a member of the diverse rose family! - Its tart berries are often used by people to make tasty jams, jellies, and even wine! - Native peoples once used its tough wood to create tools and bows for hunting. - This hardy plant can survive in very cold, high-altitude places where few other trees grow. ## Special abilities - **Winter Feast:** Sitka Mountain-Ash produces nutrient-rich berries that provide vital food for birds during harsh winter months. - **Steep Anchor:** Its strong root system helps it cling to rocky slopes, preventing soil erosion in mountainous terrain. - **Autumn Blaze:** Special leaf pigments create brilliant red and orange autumn colors, attracting animals to help spread its seeds. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 100-500 cm - **Spread:** 100-300 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Feasts on berries and disperses seeds. - **Eaten by:** [Cedar Waxwing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cedar-waxwing) (*Bombycilla cedrorum*) — Relies on berries for winter survival. - **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen. - **Eats:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — Browses on young leaves and twigs. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always stay on paths when exploring nature and don't eat any berries without asking an adult. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Sitka Mountain-Ash? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Sitka Mountain-Ash? 100-500 cm ### How wide does Sitka Mountain-Ash spread? 100-300 cm ### How big are the flowers on Sitka Mountain-Ash? 0.5-1 cm ### When does Sitka Mountain-Ash bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is Sitka Mountain-Ash edible? Yes ### Is Sitka Mountain-Ash toxic? Mild ### What is Sitka Mountain-Ash's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Cypress Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cypress-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Sitka Mountain-Ash: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sitka-mountain-ash)