Fingerprint®

'Fingerprint' is an upright form of the well-known Mountain Ash or Rowan.  It gets its name from of its columnar appearance - rather like a long thin finger.

It produces regular side shoots the length of the stem and at right angles to the stem, but these tend to remain quite short, so the overall appearance is of green-leaved column.

Like the Common Rowan, it produces clusters of red berries in the autumn, and the leaves take on orange tints at this time.

Overall this is one of the best fastigiate (columnar) forms of Sorbus aucuparia.

Growing and Training

Most forms of Sorbus aucuparia are reliable, but Fingerprint is particularly disease-resistant.

The striking columnar appearance can be further enhanced as the tree matures by clearing the lower stem of branches.

History

'Fingerprint' was developed in Belgium in the 1990s.

Fingerprint characteristics

• Gardening skillBeginner
• Fruit persistencePersistent
• Food usesCulinary
• Country of originBelgium
• Period of origin1950 - 1999
• Fruit colourRed

You might also like these varieties

• 
  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.