Photo gallery

  • A mature specimen of Sorbus torminalis
  • A mature specimen of Sorbus torminalis
  • The flowers and leaves of Sorbus torminalis
  • 1.5-2.0m tall Wild Service trees
  • Carbon Rating
  • Carbon Rating

Wild Service Tree

Sorbus torminalis

Out of stock

Our new stock is growing! New stock will be available 1st September 2025.

About this product

Sorbus torminalis, known as the Wild Service Tree, is a much forgotten but lovely native tree that is sometimes referred to as the Chequer Tree which is why there are so many pubs up and down the land sharing the same name.

It has a columnar habit when young and graduates to a broad oval when mature.

White flowers in spring give way to sharp-tasting fruits in the autumn that were dried and used as ‘chequers’ in the south of England in the Middle Ages.

Its bark also resembles a chequer pattern as it matures. Its green summer leaves turn orange and yellow in the autumn.

Sorbus torminalis is challenging to transplant when bare-rooted or root-balled due to its coarse roots. It's best to plant it as an established tree in a container to ensure successful growth.

It thrives in most free-draining soils but being a woodland plant, doesn’t want to be under the glare of a hot sun for too long.

If you live in an area prone to rabbits or deer then we recommend rabbit guards for these trees.

We have gratefully received intel that this tree has been reclassified as Torminalis glaberrima. This may take a while to catch on so in the meantime we will persist with its historic listing.

Mature Height: 7-12m

Specifications

Common names
Wild Service Tree
Height of tree
7-12m
Soil type
Well drained, Will tolerate most soil types
Shape
Rounded
Blossom Colour
White
Foliage Colour
Green
Information Flags
Good for bees, Native
Looks good in
Spring
Location
Garden, Parkland
Genus
Sorbus