Sorbus randaiensis (Hayata) Koidz.

Sorbus randaiensis is a member of subgenus Sorbus, section Commixtae, and as such it has orange fruits suggestive of the familiar rowans. These can be produced in huge abundance, and when so clad, from about August onwards, the tree is a striking sight. In the wild it grows in the transition zone between coniferous forests and subalpine scrub, and can be rather shrubby, but some individuals form shapely trees (field notes to ETOT 84, ETE 230). Although it was described in 1913, the authenticity of specimens in cultivation was always in doubt (see Bean 1981b), and genuine material was not introduced until 1981, through the botanic gardens seed exchange system from the Taiwanese Forestry Commission (McAllister 2005a). Before then, narrow-leaved forms of S. commixta seem to have been cultivated under this name (More & White 2003), and the tall old trees in the West Sussex gardens of Borde Hill (16 m in 2003) and Leonardslee (10 m in 2003, TROBI) and in Westonbirt are probably really S. commixta. Some of these misidentified trees have had cultivar names applied, such as S. commixta ‘Dodong’ (A. Coombes, pers. comm. 2008). In recent years S. randaiensis has been collected regularly in Taiwan, by both European and American collectors, and it is now well established in cultivation. It would appear to be easy to grow, but Dan Hinkley (pers. comm. 2007) reports that in the Seattle area it is prone to sudden collapse. In southern England it leafs out in early spring but seems to be unaffected by later frosts (Flanagan & Kirkham 2005).