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Common Rowan

Sorbus aucuparia
Common Rowan berries and leaves
Common Rowan is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators

The Rowan or Mountain Ash is found throughout the UK, and is suitable for most situations. The leaves are highly feathered or "pinnate", with each leaf consisting of many pairs of indented lobes.

Cascades of small white flowers are produced in late spring.

The tree is at its best in the autumn, when the leaves take on red-orange tints, and abundant clusters of red berries provide extra colour.

Rowans are distantly related to crab-apples and the berries can be cooked in a similar way, to make Rowan jelly. The berries are also very attractive to birds.

Rowans grow easily from seed, and there are numerous cultivated varieties - usually chosen for their more varied leaf shapes or fruit colours. All forms of this species seem to be good hosts for mistletoe.

Common Rowan rowan trees for sale

  • 12-year bare-root tree £45.00
    Large size (3m-5m after 10 years)
    Out of stock
    Alert me
  • 22-year pot-grown tree £68.00
    In a 12L pot
    Large size (3m-5m after 10 years)
Next deliveries

Order now for delivery from week commencing 8th April where these items are showing as in stock.

Common Rowan characteristics

  • Gardening skillBeginner
  • Attractive featuresAttractive flowersAttractive fruitAttractive tree / plantAutumn foliage colour
  • Growth habitUpright
  • Height after 10 years3m-5m / 10ft-16ft
  • Growth rateAverage
  • Site conditionsCoastal siteOccasional floodingWindy site
  • WildlifeAttractive to birdsRHS Plants for Pollinators
  • Flower colourWhite
  • Flowering monthMayJune
  • Leaf colourGreen
  • Leaf colour - autumnOrange / Red
  • Leaf/Flower sequenceLeaves appear first
  • Fruit colourRed
  • Fruit persistencePersistent
  • Annual cycleDeciduous

Similar varieties

  • See also Asplenifolia
    Sorbus aucuparia
    Asplenifolia
    The Cut-leaf Rowan, an excellent form of the native Mountain Ash, orange-red berries, and highly feathered leaves.
  • See also Croft Coral
    Sorbus aucuparia
    Croft Coral
    Croft Coral is a small rowan tree but the fruits are an orange coral colour rather than the usual red,
  • See also Ember Glow
    Sorbus aucuparia
    Ember Glow
    This rowan has bluish-green leaves which turn orange-red in the autumn.The fruitlets are red, and persist well into winter.
  • Sorbus aucuparia
    Fingerprint
    A particularly upright form of the Mountain Ash, and one of the most disease-resistant.
  • See also Glendoick Spire
    Sorbus aucuparia
    Glendoick Spire
    A small compact rowan with an upright form, notable for its bright pink fruitlets and feathered leaves.
  • Sorbus
    Glendoick White Baby
    Glendoick White Baby is a superb tree for autumn colour, with large bright white berries and bright red leaves.
  • Sorbus aucuparia
    Sheerwater Seedling
    A compact upright form of the Common Rowan, notable for its abundant fruiting.

What will it look like?

Illustrative example of a pot-grown tree of this variety as supplied. Approximate girth: 6/8cm. We try to keep all pot-grown trees down to about 1.5m as supplied, but some may be larger. Trees should reach their mature height after about 10 or more years. We may also have 1-year bare-root trees of this variety - they are not shown here.

Sorbus Aucuparia

How to choose a Rowan or Whitebeam tree

We list more than 50 Sorbus (rowan and whitebeam) trees. Choosing can be difficult! Our article explaining the different berry and leaf colours might help narrow down the selection.