Olympic Flame

Olympic Flame is one of the best small rowans. The highly-feathered leaves start out as a copper green colour, becoming green over the summer, and then an intense orange / red in the autumn.

The small flowers are white, borne in large inflorescences in late spring, and develop into bright red fruitlets.

Unlike most rowans, the fruits do not stay on the tree (persist) into winter, although they are attractive to birds.

Growing and Training

Olympic Flame grows with a naturally upright and (particularly as a young tree) does not have many side shoots. It is a good choice if space is limited.

History

In 2014 Sorbus 'Olympic Flame' was re-classified in the species Sorbus ulleungensis. It was previously listed in the long-established rowan species Sorbus commixta which is native to Japan, Korea, and Sakhalin. The change resulted from research into the wild populations of Sorbus species on Ulleung Island, off the coast of Korea, which identified the new species based on its larger flowers and larger fruits.

Olympic Flame characteristics

• Gardening skillBeginner
• Fruit persistenceNormal ripening
• PruningLight prune
• Country of originSouth Korea
• Fruit colourOrange / Red

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  Common Rowan
  The Rowan or Mountain Ash, native to most parts of the UK. The leaves turn golden red in autumn, accompanied by clusters of red berries. One of the largest species of Sorbus.
• 
  Lutescens
  An excellent garden tree, very hardy, easy to grow, and tolerant of a wide range of soils and conditions. Grey-green leaves turn russet in autumn, with orange berries.
• 
  Olympic Flame
  Olympic Flame (or Dodong) is an attractive small rowan tree, its orange/red autumn leaf-colours are amongst the best.