Sorbus Aria Whitebeam Pleached Trees

Sorbus Aria or Whitebeam is a mid-sized deciduous tree. Renowned for its highly-decorative blossoms and bright red berries that follow them, these Pleached Whitebeam specimens are primarily used for above-fence screening.

The green, broadly ovate leaves have a white-felted underside and unfold in the spring. In May, the lush green crown of Whitebeam is covered with clusters of white, five-petaled flowers. The blossoms are followed by berries, which ripen to shades of deep, scarlet red in the late summer and early fall. The leaves have a good autumn colour, turning to yellow and brown shades before they drop in the winter. Versatile and undemanding, Sorbus Aria will thrive in both dappled shade and a sunny spot, whether sheltered or exposed. This cultivar performs best in moderately fertile, humus-rich soil.

Native to Europe, Whitebeam is a robust and strong cultivar. It is rarely affected by any serious pests or diseases, and it can survive even if the winter temperatures drop to 20 degrees below zero. Furthermore, Whitebeam is tolerant of atmospheric pollution making it a great choice for urban gardens. A recipient of the Perfect for Pollinators Badge by Royal Horticultural Society, Sorbus Aria is guaranteed to attract bees and butterflies to your garden.

These particular specimen are in pleached form. With the crown already shaped, all you need to do is give the tree a trim, once or twice a year to maintain their elegant form. In its original form, Sorbus Aria can grow to be 8 to 12 meters high, but our Pleached Whitebeams have a 180 to 200 cm clear stem height (e.g. from top of plant container to the beginning of the crown).

With a bare trunk (or clear stem) and a high square crown, Pleached Whitebeam adds architectural value and texture to any garden. These traditionally-shaped trees look particularly striking when in full bloom or adorned by blood red berries. The bright colours of autumn foliage offer interest as winter approaches. Pleached Sorbus Aria is best used as a “foliage window” for above fence screening. Its lush, green foliage will create a dense, high hedge without taking up any space in the garden. Pleached Whitebeam can be used to extend your fence’s height and provide privacy.

For standard Whitebeam, take a look at Sorbus Aria Magnifica. You might also be interested in other screening and hedging shrubs and trees we have for sale.