Pleasant mountain ash

Many fruit trees are often associated with spring or summer, but the Sorbier plaisant, also known as Mountain Sorb, was used to predict harsh winters. An old North American tradition has it that grandmothers would climb the mountain in autumn to see how big the clusters of fruit were. If these were plentiful, it heralded the arrival of a hard winter. Sorbier plaisant can help us look forward to the days ahead, and arm us with hope.

Sorbier plaisant has its roots in North America, where it is one of the large shrubs that are abundant in Quebec. Its 11 to 15 leaflets* give it an exotic appearance. It produces beautiful white flowers and clusters of small red berries, which are very persistent and appreciated by wildlife. Its bark is slightly sheared at maturity, brown in color and dotted with lighter lenticels.

This tree represents apprehension and persistence.

* Small "leaves" that form a compound leaf