Hello, does anyone have any information about Sorbus randenesis? I won a seedling a couple of years ago at a garden club raffle and it's clearly labeled with this name. It is definitely a Sorbus, the foliage resembles that of a mountain ash but appears somewhat finer. So far no flowers or berries, but foliage was spectacularly red last fall. It is now about twelve inches tall and I am keeping it in a pot until I find out its characteristics before deciding whether to plant it in the garden. I have googled it to death but no luck finding any information. The only "randenensis" I can find is an Ammonite. Thank you
Think you had the spelling just slightly wrong. Try Sorbus randaiensis. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200011707 http://www.mygarden.ws/Sorbus randaiensis BSWJ3202 autumn colours.jpg http://www.pennine.demon.co.uk/Arboretum/Sora.htm
Some useful info in Grimshaw & Bayton's New Trees. A Taiwanese endemic rowan closely related to Japanese Rowan Sorbus commixta; grows to 8m tall. Most older plants in cultivation are apparently Sorbus commixta mis-labelled, with the true species only introduced in 1981 but now fairly widely available from several introductions. It is reported to be "prone to sudden collapse" in the Seattle area.
Being a garden club seedling I'd wonder how the seed it was raised from originated and what the species identification was based on. If the seed came from a specimen in a local collection or other cultivated setting hybridity could be possible (although Sorbus is I believe also known to produce some apomictic seedlings). Especially in this age of the internet people may look at a picture and think they have the right name for the plant in hand.
