Wild Service tree (Sorbus torminalis) in a 2ltr pot
Price range: £24.00 through £28.00
Size options
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- 30-60cm tall tree in a 2 litre pot
- 60-90cm tall tree in a 2 litre pot
Home delivery between:
- Description
- Why buy from us?
- Delivery
- Additional information
Description
Wild Service Tree (Sorbus torminalis)
A rare and beautiful native tree with maple‑like leaves, rich autumn colour and wildlife‑friendly fruit — perfect for naturalistic planting and larger gardens.
The Wild Service Tree is one of Britain’s rarest native species, valued for its distinctive lobed leaves, warm autumn colours and small brown fruits known as “chequers”. Once common in ancient woodlands, it is now a sought‑after tree for conservation planting, wildlife gardens and naturalistic landscapes.Perfect For
- Medium and larger gardens
- Wildlife‑friendly planting
- Naturalistic and woodland schemes
- Conservation and rewilding projects
Why Choose the Wild Service Tree?
- Rare native species — a talking point and conservation asset
- Beautiful maple‑like leaves with warm orange and russet autumn colour
- Wildlife‑rich fruit loved by birds and mammals
- Hardy and reliable — thrives in most well‑drained soils
Final Height & Spread
- Height: 12–20m at maturity
- Spread: 6–10m
- Graceful, upright form — ideal for naturalistic planting
Growth Rate
- Moderate — typically 20–40cm per year
- Establishes well in sunny or lightly shaded positions
Wildlife Benefits
- Flowers support pollinators in late spring
- Chequer fruits feed birds, small mammals and insects
- Light canopy allows wildflowers and underplanting beneath
- Safety note: Fruits are edible when fully ripe (“bletted”) but astringent when unripe and should not be eaten until soft.
Why Buy From Cotswold Trees?
- 5‑star rated independent nursery
- UK‑grown trees
- 100% peat‑free from seed to sale
- Personal service and tracked courier delivery
- Grown with care by a small, expert team
- Full planting instructions included with every tree
- Plant passport supplied with every order
Wild Service Tree FAQs
How big does a Wild Service Tree get?
It typically reaches 12–20m tall with a 6–10m spread, forming a graceful, upright crown.
Is the Wild Service Tree suitable for small gardens?
Not usually — it is best suited to medium or larger gardens due to its eventual size.
How fast does the Wild Service Tree grow?
Moderate growth, around 20–40cm per year once established.
Does the Wild Service Tree need special soil?
No — it thrives in most well‑drained soils and prefers a sunny or lightly shaded position.
Are the fruits edible?
Yes — the fruits are edible when fully ripe (soft and brown), but unripe fruits are astringent and should not be eaten.
Is the Wild Service Tree good for wildlife?
Yes — it provides nectar, fruit and shelter, making it excellent for wildlife‑friendly planting.
You may have some doubts about the idea of buying trees online. Let us explain how Cotswold Trees make every effort to meet your needs and the highest quality standards:
Customer focused
We're a small company, with a focus on customer satisfaction and treat every customer order with care and attention it deserves. Our customers often share their positive experience with us.
Careful delivery
Buy a small tree online and your courier delivered trees are tracked and 100% guaranteed. If your tree is lost or damaged in transit we will send another.
To ensure the larger specimen trees reach you in the best possible condition, we hand deliver these ourselves, within the Cotswolds, Midlands and central southern England and we’re thrilled to announce that all large tree deliveries will now be made using our new zero-emissions van. 🌱🚛
Highest quality
Cotswold Trees individually select, nurture, prune and protect you tree over its early life. We always strive to send our customers only the most healthy and high quality specimens. We also work to industry recognised plant health standards and we are a DEFRA registered issuer of plant passports.
Thriving tree guarantee
Your small tree (up to 90cm tall at time of delivery) is backed by our thriving tree guarantee - If your tree is not thriving after 1 year and was planted and watered in line with our recommendations, we’ll replace it free of charge.
Sustainability
It's our ambition is to achieve the highest sustainability standards in production and delivery of our trees.
- We minimise waste in the growing stages, packaging and transport
- Since September 2021 we have moved to Peat-Free compost
- Over 50% of our irrigation is fed by a rainwater harvesting system
- Our tree irrigation and monitoring systems are powered entirely by solar power
- All large tree deliveries are via zero-emissions electric van
Read more about our sustainable approach in our annual sustainability report.
Supplying high quality trees with convenient home delivery at nursery competitive prices
Standard delivery for small trees is only £3.95 per order
Our small trees up to 1.2m are packaged carefully in special double layer cardboard boxes and delivered reliably and safely via Yodel, DPD or Parcelforce.
We ship at least twice a week to ensure you receive new trees within 5 working days and often much sooner. All courier deliveries are accompanied with tracking details. Order more, save more, as the delivery charge is per order not per tree.
Medium trees delivered from £9.95
For some of our range we offer medium sized trees between 1.2m to 1.8m tall delivered by DPD for a flat rate of £9.95 each. As with the smaller trees these are packaged in custom boxes to protect your tree in transit. Most tree orders of this size are dispatched within 5 working days.
Delivering larger trees across the Midlands & the Cotswolds
For trees taller than 1.8m, we offer a reasonably priced delivery service across the Midlands and the Cotswolds. Cotswold Trees are able to bring your chosen trees directly to you at home, often within 2 weeks of ordering using our new zero-emissions electric van.
Our closest delivery zones will see deliveries as quickly as 7-14 days, with outer zones sometimes requiring a longer lead time. Of course, when you place an order, we will communicate with you individually to confirm our next delivery dates.
Additional information
| Weight | N/A |
|---|---|
| Size | 30-60cm tall, 60-90cm tall |
