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Rowan

Sorbus aucuparia

Ornamental treeDeciduousFrost HardyToxic

Rowan is a small native European tree of the rose family with pinnate leaves, flat clusters of white flowers in May–June and orange-red berries from August that are eaten by numerous bird species. Its light, feathery canopy casts only light shade, so shrubs and perennials can be underplanted.

Overview

Height6–12 m
Crown diameter4–8 m
Root systemHeart-rooted
ShadeLight shade
SunFull Sun
WaterMedium
HardinessUSDA zones 3–7

Seasons

Flowering (Central Europe)May, Jun

Planting time for bare-root trees. Container trees can be planted whenever the soil is workable.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

None

Bad Companions

None

Shared disease: fire blight

Other hosts in the database: Apple, Pear, Quince, Serviceberry, Crabapple. An infected tree can pass the disease on to them.

Only relations with a documented cause are listed.

Toxicity

SeverityMildly toxic
Toxic toHumans

Raw fresh berries contain about 0.4% parasorbic acid, which is strongly laxative; cooking converts it, and the RHS rates the plant 'potentially harmful' (fruit not to be eaten raw). No ASPCA entry for dogs/cats was found.

Planting Tips

LocationSun to light partial shade; very frost hardy and tolerant of exposed sites. Avoid paved or compacted ground and raising the soil level under the crown.
SoilHumus-rich, moist, slightly acid soil (pH 5-6) is ideal; lime is tolerated but growth is weaker. Sensitive to soil salt and compaction.
WateringWater regularly during the first years after planting; long-term it suits sites with at least 800-900 mm annual rainfall.
FertilizingNo special fertilisation needed in normal garden soil.

Care Tip: Needs very little pruning; hard cutting produces suckers at the root collar and large wounds heal poorly. Can be affected by fire blight, rowan moth and gall mites.

Sources