Rowan / Mountain Ash (Sorbus ulleungensis) SACHARNAJA PETROVA

Rowan / Mountain Ash (Sorbus aucuparia) 'Sacharnaja Petrova'

A unique historic variety with extreme frost resistance and exceptionally sweet berries without a trace of bitterness.

The 'Sacharnaja Petrova' (translated as Petrov's Sugar) variety is a true fruity gem experiencing a major renaissance today. Unlike ordinary rowans, its berries contain absolutely no bitterness or astringency. They are so sweet that they can be eaten fresh right off the tree. If left on the branches, they naturally dry and resemble delicious raisins. Furthermore, the tree excels with its enormous frost resistance and high ornamental value.

Main advantages of the variety:

• Unmatched sweetness: Over 13% sugar content, completely lacking astringency or bitterness.
• Extreme frost resistance: The tree withstands freezing temperatures down to -40 °C (-40 °F) without damage.
• Natural "raisins": Berries can dry directly on the tree to be eaten as a sweet treat.
• Urban tolerance: Performs exceptionally well even in polluted city environments (smog).
• Beautiful habit, abundant blooms, and brilliant autumn leaf colors.

Origin and Registration

• Origin: Russia.
• Breeding: Created by agricultural scientist Yefrem Mikhailovich Petrov. He selected it after observing the extraordinary sweetness of certain fruits from the well-known sweet rowan 'Nevezhinskaya', developing this even sweeter cultivar.

Variety Characteristics

Tree and Leaves

• Vigor and Habit: A medium-vigor tree with a steady growth rate. It forms a wide-pyramidal, spreading, and moderately dense crown.
• Leaves and Ornamental Value: Alternate, pinnate leaves. Dark green in summer, they put on a spectacular show in autumn, turning amazing shades of yellow, orange, and red. Suitable as a solitary specimen or for hedges.

Flowers and Fruits

• Blooming: Blooms in late May to early June with white flowers arranged in rich corymbs.
• Size and Color: Round berries (approx. 1 cm in diameter) with a typical orange-yellow color. They grow in beautiful, abundant clusters.
• Composition and Taste: This is the variety's biggest standout feature. The fruits contain over 13% sugars and only 1.3% acids (standard sweet rowans have around 8% sugar). The taste is extremely sweet with no trace of bitterness.

Resistance and Requirements

• Frost: The variety is virtually indestructible by winter—it easily tolerates frosts down to -40 °C (-40 °F).
• Diseases and Urban Environment: Pests and diseases practically do not harm it. A huge advantage is its excellent tolerance to adverse urban ecology (smog, pollution).
• Soil: Very adaptable. For optimal fruiting, light to medium loamy soils with good water-retention capacity are recommended. It also tolerates short-term drought.

Cultivation Recommendations

• Location: Prefers bright, well-ventilated areas where it produces the sweetest fruits, but it will also tolerate light partial shade without issues.

Harvest and Use

• Harvest Time: Fruits ripen from mid-August to September.
• Use: Highly versatile. Great for eating raw straight from the tree. They are excellent for healthy juices, jellies, jams, and traditional pastila (fruit candy). Due to the high nutrient content, the pulp is even used in cosmetics.