Rosaceae
Sorbus scopulina

Cascade Mountain-Ash

Erect shrub, sticky, with whitish stemmed glands on new growth. Leaves deciduous, alternate, pinnately divided. Leaflets 9–13, yellow-green, 1–3 in. long, narrow, lance-shaped, with sharply pointed tips, fine-toothed. Inflorescence consists of many-flowered 2–4 in. round-topped clusters. Flowers white, small, petals nearly round. Fruit small, round, orange to red, present after leaves fall in autumn. Grows in meadows, canyons, along streams, open conifer forests, at mid- to alpine elevations. Var. cascadensis usually grows west of Cascade Range crest, with leaflets seldom more than 11, round petals, red fruit. On east side is var. scopulina, usually with 13 leaflets, oval petals, orange-red fruit.

  • Rarity: Locally Common
  • Flowering Time: Late Spring, Early Summer
  • Life Cycle: Perennial
  • Height: 3--12 feet
  • Habitat: West-Side Forest, East-Side Forest, Subalpine
  • Found In: Olympic Np, Mt. Rainier Np, N Cascades Np, Crater Lake Np, Wallowas, Steens, West Gorge
  • Native: Yes