American Mountain Ash is a small tree or shrub of boreal forests and mountain ridges, producing large clusters of brilliant orange-red berries that persist into winter and provide critical food for waxwings, thrushes, and grouse. It is not a true ash (genus Fraxinus) but a member of the rose family related to apples. The berries are mildly toxic raw but edible when cooked.
Best time to see a American Mountain Ash
The best time to see a American Mountain Ash is June–September, when about 70% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 3,376 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
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