Characteristics of Korean Whitebeam Tree (Alniaria alnifolia) in the Wild

Korean whitebeam (Alniaria alnifolia) is a species of whitebeam in the family Rosaceae native to East Asia in eastern and northern China, Taiwan, Korea, and Japan.

Alniaria alnifolia has several synonymous names recognized in scientific journals, they include:

• Aria alnifolia
• Crataegus alnifolia
• Micromeles alnifolia
• Micromeles alnifolia var. typica
• Micromeles alnifolia typica
• Pyrus alnifolia
• Sorbus alnifolia
• Sorbus alnifolia var. typica
• Sorbus alnifolia var. typica

Korean whitebeam is traded by nurseries in many countries with temperate climates. This is a beautiful ornamental garden tree. This species can be easily recognized by its slender, dense shoots and twigs, as well as the many slender lateral branches growing along the branches. Its very dense foliage, consisting of thin leaves arranged in crunchy-looking, overlapping clusters, is reminiscent of a native Beech or Hornbeam tree.

Korean whitebeam does not bloom prominently every year, but it is at its best. The bloom lasts for two weeks.

In October, the main beauty of the Korean whitebeam is the color of its autumn leaves, which are apricot pink or orange-red, the fruits are usually few in each bunch and are immediately picked up by birds.

The common names used to refer to the Alniaria alnifolia species are Korean whitebeam, Korean mountain ash, and Alder-leafed whitebeam. In Korean it is known as 팥배나무 and in Chinese it is called 水榆花楸.
 

Characteristics of Korean Whitebeam Leaf

The leaves are green and lightly hairy underneath, 5-10 cm long and 3-6 cm wide, simple, usually not lobed (except varieties), widest near the base, with serrated margins and a sharp apex. Leaf color in autumn is orange-pink to red.
 

Characteristics of Korean Whitebeam Flower

The flowers are 10-18 mm in diameter, with five white petals and 20 yellowish-white stamens, they are produced in corymbs 4-8 cm in diameter in late spring.
 

Characteristics of Korean Whitebeam Fruit

The fruits are round, 8-15 mm in diameter, bright red, with a dimple at the top, they ripen in mid-autumn.
 

Characteristics of the Korean Whitebeam Tree

Korean whitebeam is a medium-sized deciduous tree that grows to a height of 10-15 meters with a trunk diameter of up to 30 cm and gray bark. The crown is round and wide on mature trees and conical on young trees. The branches slope upwards and the shoots are slender.

This tree is sometimes planted as an ornamental tree in parks, primarily for its fall color.

In East Asia, the Korean whitebeam tree is used as a bonsai subject.