This genus includes the rowans (mountain ash) and whitebeams, and this present group consists of the rowans, technically known as the Aucuparia section. These are small, graceful trees or shrubs with attractive foliage, which in the rowans is usually pinnate, toothed or lobed and provides good autumn colour. In spring or early summer they produce dense corymbs of frothy white or pinkish flowers, which are followed by fruit varying in colour depending on the species. Many species are apomictic, i.e. self-fertile, and so seedlings are clones of the parent. For this reason there are many species, groups of which can be similar to one another.

Sorbus carmesina used to be known as the pink-berried form of Sorbus hupehensis, also known as var. obtusa or as named varieties 'Rosea' or 'Pink Pagoda', and then it was named S. pseudohupehensis. Now this collection has been named Sorbus carmesina. It has bluish green pinnate leaves, and large clusters of rich pink fruit, which are always wonderful, and in the best years are better than that, remaining while the leaves turn yellow, orange, red.