Whitebeam (Sorbus aria) is a member of the rose family and is related to the rowan tree (Sorbus aucuparia). Its common name ‘whitebeam’ means ‘white tree’ and refers to the conspicuously pale felted undersides of the leaves. Swedish whitebeam (Sorbus intermedia) is another closely related species. Unlike common whitebeam, it's not native to Britain, but has been widely planted and now self-seeds in some areas of the UK.

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Found growing naturally on woodland edges and in scrub in southern England, common whitebeam grows best in well-drained calcareous soils over chalk and limestone. Common whitebeam trees are often planted in parks and gardens, and used as a street tree, but rarely seen in the wild. There are other related whitebeam species in the UK that are exceedingly rare, such as the Arran whitebeam and Wilmott’s whitebeam. These trees generally exist in very localised populations with only several hundred, or even fewer, individuals remaining.

Sorbus aria is considered a useful species for planting on reclaimed landfill sites. Its timber is hard and white, with a fine grain. It's traditionally been used for cogs and wheels in machinery, and for joinery and cutlery handles. Whitebeam berries are edible to humans after bletting but it's worth noting that, like apples, whitebeam berry seeds contain small amounts of cyanoglycosides, so should be avoided. The berries are not reported to be toxic to dogs.

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