Rowan, Whitebeam and Mountain Ash trees are all part of the genus Sorbus. Rowan trees have lovely dense corymbs of creamy white flowers in spring, followed by red, white, pink or yellow berries in autumn. Rowans are deciduous with foliage varying from dark green to silvery blue with striking red, orange and yellow autumn colours....
Choosing & Growing Rowan Trees
Rowan trees add plenty of interest to gardens with their attractive foliage, corymbs of flowers, bright berries and autumn foliage colour. There is plenty of variety to choose from, with Sorbus hupehensis, cashmiriana and 'Joseph Rock' offering unusual berry colours. For small gardens consider, Sorbus vilmorinii or Sorbus aucuparia 'Autumn Spire'.
As well as being popular with humans for aesthetic reasons, Sorbus trees are great for attracting birds, with their berries making popular food for chaffinches, siskins and blackbirds. Fieldfares and redwings actually plan their migration from Scandinavia to the UK to coincide with the berry production of Rowan trees.
Sorbus aucuparia is native to the UK and Rowan trees are historically a pioneer species, thus are tolerant of a range of conditions. Although preferring well drained soil, they can tolerate some damp in most soil types. They are an excellent choice of tree for less than perfect conditions. For advice on planting Rowan trees, take a look at our Help and Advice section.
Etymology & Mythology Around Sorbus
Sorbus is derived from the Latin name for Sorbus domestica or the Service Tree as it is commonly known. The name aucuparia comes from the Greek for bird catcher, referring of course to the popular berries. Back when a wider variety of fruits were foraged, Rowan berries were counted as one of the home fruits.
There are many more names for Sorbus, including Witty tree which means witch’s tree as it was thought to ward off evil spirits; Wayfarer’s tree and Traveller’s tree as people believed Sorbus trees prevented travellers from becoming lost on their journey and Mountain Ash tree as it grows well in the mountains and has similar leaves to Ash trees.
In mythology, the Rowan tree saved the God Thor by reaching over a fast flowing river, in which he was being swept away, and bringing him back to the riverside. In the Victorian era, some believed that Rowan trees could deter evil such as witches. In other countries, the amount of berries produced were used as indicators for things such as snow fall.
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Advice From Our Experts
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How to Plant a Pot-Grown Tree
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How to Plant a Mature Tree
This step-by-step guide walks through how to plant a mature tree, including how to correctly install a Large or Extra Large Stake & Tie Kit (two stakes and a crossbar)....
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How to Water Trees & Shrubs Correctly
A good watering regime is essential for young trees and shrubs to establish properly. This guide will walk you through how long to water a new tree or shrub for,...
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How to Prune Ornamental Trees Correctly
This step-by-step guide walks through how (and when) to prune ornamental trees correctly. You can watch a video version of this guide below. Pruning helps to keep trees healthy, promote...