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Aria edulis

Whitebeam

Rosaceae Europe

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 5–7

Overview

Aria edulis is a small to medium deciduous tree 20-50 feet (6-15 m) tall with an oval to rounded crown, sometimes multi-stemmed. Its leaves are broadly oval, 2-5 inches (5-12 cm) long, with shallow lobes and toothed edges, dark green above and densely white-felted beneath, so the whole crown flashes silver-white as the wind lifts the foliage. In late spring it carries flat clusters of small white five-petalled flowers about 0.4 inch (1 cm) across. These are followed in autumn by clusters of rounded scarlet to orange-red berries 0.3-0.5 inch (8-13 mm) wide, which birds strip quickly once ripe. Autumn foliage turns russet-gold before falling. The young bark is smooth and grey, becoming shallowly ridged with age. It grows on well-drained soils, including thin, chalky, and limestone ground, and tolerates wind, drought, and urban conditions. The tree is wind-firm and compact for its height, though it casts moderate shade and the fallen berries can stain paving. It is slow-growing and long-lived once established.

Native Range

Aria edulis is native to Europe, especially on chalk and limestone hills, from Britain and Scandinavia south to the Mediterranean mountains. It grows in open woodland, scrub, cliffs, and rocky slopes on lime-rich ground.

Suggested Uses

Planted as a compact street, garden, and parkland tree, in shelterbelts, and on chalky or exposed sites where larger trees struggle. The spring flowers, white-backed leaves, and autumn berries give interest across the seasons and feed birds.

How to Identify

Identify by the broadly oval, shallowly lobed leaves that are dark green above and bright white-felted beneath, giving the crown a two-tone shimmer in wind. Flat white flower clusters in spring give way to scarlet berries in autumn. The felted leaf underside and the chalk-country habitat separate it from rowans and wild service trees.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height20' - 50'

Width/Spread15' - 25'

Reaches mature size in approximately 30 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~2 weeks

Spring

Flat clusters of small white flowers open in May, lasting one to two weeks. Bees and other insects work the open clusters. By autumn the flowers have become bunches of red berries that ripen from late summer.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

dark green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 5-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 8.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand chalk clay

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

Reaches full size in 20-30 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grow in full sun to light shade on any well-drained soil, including dry, shallow, chalky, and sandy ground. Young trees establish steadily and need watering only through their first seasons in dry spells. The species tolerates wind, drought, salt, and urban air, which suits it to streets and exposed sites. It needs no feeding on average soil and little routine attention. Pruning is limited to shaping young trees and removing dead or crossing wood in winter. Berries drop in autumn and may need clearing from paths.

Pruning

Prune young trees in winter to build a balanced framework, removing dead, damaged, or crossing branches. Mature trees need little pruning beyond the removal of dead wood. Heavy cutting is avoided, as large wounds are slow to heal on this slow-growing tree.