This is a small tree which grows to about 15m high and is commonly found in glens, by mountain streams, in woods and rocky places, rarely on lime. It bears large, flat heads of numerous creamy-white 5-petalled flowers (each 6-9mm) in May and June and these heads become the familiar clusters of red berries in autumn. The distinctive ash-like leaves are green on both sides, pinnate, with up to 9 pairs of oblong, toothed leaflets. This is a native plant and it belongs to the family Rosaceae.
I first identified this beautiful tree growing on Djouce mountain in Co Wicklow in 1976. I photographed it in Glenmalure in 2007 (berries) and 2008 (flowers).
If you are satisfied you have correctly identified this plant, please submit your sighting to the National Biodiversity Data Centre
