Wild Service Tree is an uncommon medium-sized native broadleaved species usually associated with being an indicator of ancient woodland sites. Rarely found in pure stands, but sometimes in groups from suckering though usually as individuals in mixed woodlands. It is a useful species when planting hedges of native trees.
The Sorbus genus has recently undergone a comprehensive revision. For Sennikov & Kurtto (2017) have published a new checklist of Sorbus s.l. see our full report, which provides an updated classification of this group according to the latest phylogenetic studies. This revision finally recognises the 5 different subgenus within the original Sorbus genera. Of the species occurring in Britain, the only one that remains in the (Sorbus) genus is Rowan: Sorbus aucuparia L., and its hybrid Sorbus × proctoriana T.C.G.Richs.; Sorbus torminalis is now its own separate genus (Torminalis) Wild Service Tree: Torminalis glaberrima (Gand.) Sennikov & Kurtto. (Syn. Sorbus torminalis (L.) Crantz.); Sorbus domestica is now its own separate genus (Cormus) True Service Tree: Cormus domestica (L.) Spach (Syn. Sorbus domestica L.); Then of the Whitebeams, they’ve quite rightly been split into three separate genera (Aria), (Hedlundia), and (Karpatiosorbus).
The Wild Service Tree is sometimes known as the ‘chequers tree’ a reference to its brown spotted fruit. These were used to flavour beer and the ‘chequers’ name can be linked to pubs of that name as well its more common name ‘service-tree’ which derives from the Latin for beer ‘cervisia’. Native to southern Britain and western and southern Europe. In Britain wild service-tree fits into the National Vegetation Classification (NVC) W8.
Like all Sorbus this is light demanding species adapted to warm climates and rainfall from 800 to 1500 mm. Wild service-tree should be planted on rich fertile soils of fresh to moist moisture status, including alkaline soils of adequate rooting depth. It is not suited to very dry or nutritionally poor soils or very moist to very wet soils but does grow well on clay soils. The species can be grown in mixture with nitrogen fixing trees or shrubs.
A useful plant for wildlife and should be considered in planting schemes and as a garden plant. The showy white flowers are an excellent nectar source for many invertebrates and the berries are an important food for many birds which disperse the seeds in their droppings.
At Trebrown Nurseries we maintain our own registered seed stands on Trebrown Farm, which remain the only seed stand registered in Cornwall. Wild Service Tree is not a FRM controlled species, but is certified under the voluntary FRM scheme.
