Plant Details

Sorbus thibetica

Tibetan whitebeam

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Sorbus thibetica.

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Common names

3 names · 3 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Tibetan whitebeam
Other languages (2)
Dutch
  • Tibetaanse lijsterbes
French
  • Sorbier du Tibet
Sources & name notes

Names recorded in our plant catalogue, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

General information

Scientific name: Sorbus thibetica
Accepted name (Kew): Micromeles thibetica (Cardot) Mezhenskyj View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited taxonomic treatment. Botanical references may use alternative names.

Sources [1] [2] [3]
Botanical family: Rosaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Sorbus (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Tibetan whitebeam

Plant characteristics

Layer: Fruit tree
Catalogue size class: Large
Height: 20.00 m
Spread: 15.00 m
Growth rate: Fast
Foliage: Deciduous

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 5-9
Soil moisture:
Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Partial shade, Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
None

Description

Micromeles thibetica, also known as Sorbus thibetica, is a tree native to Yunnan, China.

This is the species described under the Cardot name, not plants sold under a misapplied Sorbus thibetica name.

Sources [3] [2]

Harvest

Harvest starts: 15/09
Harvest ends: 31/10

Crown

Crown shape: Narrow pyramidal
Crown density: Dense crown

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: WCVP version 16, wcvp_names.csv: Sorbus thibetica (Cardot) Hand.-Mazz., name ID 2992431, row 857578; Micromeles thibetica (Cardot) Mezhenskyj, name ID 3236386, row 656107
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 855534; name ID 2991335; Sorbus L.. Family column.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Plants For A Future Sorbus thibetica — PFAF Plant Database
    Supports: TaxonomyDescription
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: Plant name and author citation: Sorbus thibetica (Cardot.) Hand-Mazz.
    • Description: Plant name and author citation: Sorbus thibetica (Cardot.) Hand-Mazz.

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Micromeles thibetica (Cardot) Mezhenskyj | Plants of the World Online
    Supports: TaxonomyDescription
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: Accepted-name header; distribution; life form; synonyms or hybrid formula as applicable
    • Description: Accepted-name header; distribution; life form; synonyms or hybrid formula as applicable

    Source checked on .