Joseph Rock

'Joseph Rock' is an excellent choice if you are loooking for a rowan tree to fit in a smaller space. It is widely considered one of the best of the small rowans, with an elegant appearance, reaching perhaps 4m after 10 years.

Clusters of white flowers appear in late May, followed by dense fruitlets which turn from white to golden yellow as autumn progresses.

It is one of the best rowans for autumn colour, with the leaves often attaining a flame red colour - contrasting attractively with the bright yellow fruitlets.

Growing and Training

'Joseph Rock' is easy to grow and is a great tree for a small garden. It is susceptible to fireblight - but this is not usually an issue in the UK climate.

History

'Joseph Rock' is named after Dr Joseph Rock of the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh, and is thought to have come from seeds collected on an expedition to China in the 1930s. The original tree still stands in the gardens of RHS Wisley.

Joseph Rock characteristics

• Gardening skillBeginner
• Fruit persistencePersistent
• PruningLight prune
• Country of originChina
• Period of origin1900 - 1949
• Fruit colourYellow

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