Plant ID card |
|
|---|---|
Botanical name |
Sorbus domestica. |
Common name |
Cormier, domestic mountain ash. |
Family |
Rosacea. |
Origin |
Southern Europe, Mediterranean rim. |
Dimensions |
Slow growing, the cormier measures 10 to 20 m high and 5 to 8 m wide when mature. |
Foliage |
Lapsed. The leaves are composed of leaflets and measure approximately 20 cm. They change from green in summer to orange-yellow and then red as fall approaches. |
Bloom |
The cormier flowers in spring, from April to June, with corymbs composed of small, softly scented white flowers. |
Fruiting |
Called corms, the fruits look like small pears or apples, depending on the cultivar. |
Exposure |
Sun, partial shade. |
Ground |
Ordinary but profound. |
Rusticity |
Up to -25°C. |
The cormier tree is a real treasure for biodiversity. Its flowers attract pollinating insects and its fruits, the corms, delight birds.
How to grow a corami tree at home?
Even for the most experienced gardeners, successfully sowing cormier seeds is a real challenge because germination is rather difficult. So, make your life easier by purchasing
a young plant
directly from a nurseryman near you.
Choose a sunny location and opt for an area of your garden where the
soil is deep
. The roots of your cormier tree will be able to develop there for many years. Remember to anticipate its size, because even if its growth is slow, the corm tree can reach 20 m high when mature, and several meters wide.
Soak the root ball of your corm tree and, during this time, dig a hole three times as wide and deep as it. Place your young plant there and bury it while taking care to
keep the crown visible on the surface
. Stake the stem halfway up and mulch the base.
How to maintain your domestic rowan tree?
Watering:
the cormier tree is drought resistant but it is preferable to water it regularly for the first two years, in spring and summer. Do not hesitate to renew your mulch and add a good thickness to limit the frequency of watering;
Pruning:
pruning the cormier is not essential but it is sometimes necessary to remove broken or annoying branches. If it is really essential, prune in dry weather and preferably in summer;
Please note:
After a few years, the dark gray bark of your domestic mountain ash will split and form a sort of square scale. Rest assured, this is completely normal and is even part of its charm.
Corms: are the fruits of the corm tree edible?
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Delicious raw:
the corms measure 1.5 cm to 3 cm long and look a lot like mini pears or apples. When young, they are green and inedible; when ripe, they are yellow or red with a very astringent taste; very ripe, almost overripe, that's when they are best. Forget their wrinkled brown-red skin and enjoy these fruits with their incomparable winey, rare and atypical flavor;
Tasty cooked:
corms are also eaten cooked. They are perfect for jams and compotes, as long as you wait until they are overripe.
With the cormier, you rediscover the authentic pleasure of seeing an old fruit shrub grow in your home. Reserve a special place for it to fully enjoy its beautiful foliage and succulent fruits!