Jan-Herm Janßen · CC BY-SA 3.0
Wild service tree
Tree·Sorbus torminalis
Full sun
Sun
Medium
Water
Well-drained soil
Drainage
Zones 5–8
Hardiness
Wild service tree (Sorbus torminalis) is a tree. It grows best in full sun and has moderate water needs.
Through the year
DormantLeafing outFloweringFruiting
Works well with
from wiki dataNo companions recorded.
WHAT IT NEEDS
Wants full sun
Needs moderate water
Needs well-drained soil
Prefers soil pH 5.5–7.5
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Prefers loam, clay, sandy loam soil
Tolerates some soil compaction
Draws up calcium, potassium from deep in the soil
Adds a moderate amount of organic matter to the soil
Partners with mycorrhizal fungi to boost nutrient uptake
WHAT IT GIVES
Gives mulch biomass (medium)
Gives fruit (edible, astringent when unripe)
Provides calcium
Provides potassium
Attracts pollinators
Attracts birds
HOW IT GROWS
SIZE & SPACING
Canopy tree
Height1500–2500 cm
Spacing1000 cm (min 800 cm)
Root depthDeep
Width800–1200 cm
Width figures are rough estimates, the most variable measurement in our data.
AI estimate · accuracy improves as growers contribute corrections.
HOW TO PROPAGATE
Propagate by seed, grafting, cuttings
Difficulty
Establishes in about 3 yr
Self-seeds a little on its own
Where this comes from
Parsed11 Sept 2026
ConfidenceNot recorded
Photograph Jan-Herm Janßen · CC BY-SA 3.0