Joseph Rock Ornamental Tree (Sorbus 'Joseph Rock')

Joseph Rock Ornamental Tree Description

The Joseph Rock is a stunning ornamental rowan tree celebrated for its unique, creamy-yellow berries and vibrant autumn foliage. As a small to medium-sized, deciduous tree, it typically grows to a height of 6–8 metres (20–26 feet), making it ideal for smaller gardens or as a feature tree in larger landscapes. With delicate, feathery foliage, clusters of white spring blossoms, and outstanding seasonal colour, the Joseph Rock is both versatile and eye-catching.

In spring, the Joseph Rock produces creamy white flowers in clusters that attract bees and other pollinators, adding to its wildlife-friendly appeal. These are followed by distinctive pale yellow berries that appear in late summer and remain well into winter, offering a striking contrast to its autumn foliage.

The foliage itself consists of graceful, pinnate leaves that turn brilliant shades of red, orange, and purple in autumn, creating a bold visual display against the tree’s pale berries. The contrast between the foliage and berries makes Joseph Rock one of the most popular rowans for autumn interest in UK gardens.

Pruning Advice

Joseph Rock requires minimal pruning due to its naturally attractive shape. Prune in late winter or early spring, while the tree is dormant, to remove any dead, damaged, or crossing branches and maintain good airflow within the canopy. This helps to reduce the risk of disease and encourages healthy growth.

For formative pruning, lightly shape the tree in its first few years to establish a well-balanced structure. Avoid excessive pruning, as this can reduce the flower and berry production. The Joseph Rock tree benefits from a light trim if branches are growing too densely, but overall, it maintains an elegant shape with little intervention.

Further Information

Wildlife Value: The Joseph Rock tree attracts pollinators in spring and provides a crucial winter food source for birds like thrushes and blackbirds, who are drawn to the unusual yellow berries.

Compact Size: With its modest height and spread, it is well-suited to smaller gardens and can thrive even in urban settings where space is limited.

Ornamental Appeal: The tree’s pale berries and dramatic autumn foliage make it a standout feature for year-round interest and colour.

Hardiness: Joseph Rock is a hardy variety, tolerant of cold and adaptable to a wide range of growing conditions, including urban environments. It’s also resilient to pollution and can withstand exposed positions.

Delivery & Returns

Free delivery is available on most orders (except Premium Products) providing they meet the minimum spend criteria for the size of box or pallet. Pallet deliveries and large box deliveries for tall plants are indicated by icons on the product table listings. Delivery costs and minimum order details for each packaging type are as follows:

* Standard Sized Boxes (Bare root up to 1.2m tall & pots up to 7.5L) | Free UK Mainland Delivery for orders over £250 | or £9.98 charge.

* Tall Sized Boxes (Bare roots 1.2m & over) | Free UK Mainland Delivery for orders over £250 | or £24.99 charge.

* Pallets (Root balls, large pots 10L+, trees etc | Free UK Mainland Delivery for orders over £350 | or £82 charge.

* Pleached Trees (Specialist Delivery) | Free UK Mainland Delivery for orders over £1500 | or £450 charge.