Western Mountain Ash vs White Fringe Tree - TreeTime.ca

Western Mountain Ash vs White Fringe Tree

Sorbus scopulina

Chionanthus virginicus

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Western Mountain Ash
White Fringe Tree

Western Mountain Ash is a popular ornamental tree native to the western part of North America. Its attractive, white clusters of flowers bloom in early summer, making way for red, yellow or orange fruit in the fall. If the fruit doesn't catch your eye, Western Mountain Ash's autumn colours will capture your–and the birds's–attention.

White Fringe Tree is known for its fringe-like white flowers. It can either grow as a small tree or a large multistemmed shrub. The White Fringe Tree has separate male and female plants. Both male and female flowers have white fringe-like petals, but the male flowers are longer and showier. The female flowers give way to clusters of dark blue to black berries. These berries are not edible for humans but attract birds and other wildlife.

The White Fringe Tree is tolerant of clay soils, saline soils, and air pollution but does not do well in prolonged dry conditions.

Western Mountain Ash Quick Facts

White Fringe Tree Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 3a
Height: 9 m (30 ft)
Height: 5 m (15 ft)
Spread: 6 m (20 ft)
Spread: 5 m (15 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: normal, wet
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: slow
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Suckering: none
Suckering: medium


Flowers: white
Flowers: fragrant, white clusters
Berries: bunches of orange-red berries appear in late summer
Berries: blue to black
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, YT, NT
Other Names: cascade mountain ash, greene mountain ash
Other Names: american fringe tree, american fringetree, fringe tree, fringetree, north american fringe tree, white fringetree