The rowan tree tree is a small ornamental flowering tree with an attractive crown lie in of pinnately chemical compound leave . Rowan trees are known for their showy clustering of white spring flowers followed by colored orangeness or red berries appear in the gloaming . Cold - hardy deciduous rowan trees are find throughout North America and Europe .

Rowan trees like the American rowan tree tree diagram ( Sorbus americana ) and the European Sorbus aucuparia Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree ( Sorbus aucuparia ) are unbelievably easy to grow in temperate climates . The refined understory trees have good deal of cosmetic value to add visual appeal to a garden landscape in springtime , summer , fall , and wintertime . In addition , they are fantastically cold - intrepid and tolerate the harshest freezing conditions .

This article is a template to identifying common types of European mountain ash tree in a landscape . description and pictures of Sorbus aucuparia berries , flowers , foliage , and bark will help oneself you recognize this attractive tree .

What is Rowan Tree (Sorbus)?

Rowan Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree are deciduous , cold hardy and relatively little and are also called mountain ash

The Sorbus aucuparia tree is a relatively low deciduous tree diagram in the roseate familyRosaceaeand genusSorbus . The most common mintage of rowan is the American rowan Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree which is native to eastern North America . The sun - loving tree , with its dense , sullen - green foliation , colourful bloom , and berries , grow easily in acidulent ground .

The American Sorbus aucuparia tree ( Sorbus americana ) is more commonly known as the American mickle - ash . It ’s an ornamental tree that grows in mount , timberland , John Rock rock outcrop , and the lowlands . The common name — flock ash — come from the chemical compound pinnate leave resemblingash tree get out .

The remainder between the American mountain ash and the ash tree Tree ( spp . Fraxinus ) is that the notched pamphlet grow alternately on the petiole , not oppositely .

The rowan tree has a farseeing history in folklore . It is said that the rowan Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree stand for wisdom and bravery , and put rowan tree leaf or berry clusters above an entranceway would declare oneself protection . The namerowancomes from European languages meaning “ to redden”—referring to the vibrant crimson or orange colouring material of thetree berry .

Rowan Tree Identification

The key lineament of rowan trees are their pinnately compound farewell , flat - top off bunch of livid flower , and showy reddish or orangish Charles Edward Berry . Rowan trees grow between 10 and 30 ft . ( 3 – 9 m ) grandiloquent . Their compound folio leaflets grow alternately on prow , and white leaping flowers give way to brightly colour in berry .

Rowan Tree Berries

Rowan fruit is berry - like and grows in dim clusters . It is usually lustrous red or orange

Berries maturate on the Sorbus aucuparia Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree are one of its most attractive features . The hopeful red ink or orange comestible Chuck Berry - comparable pome measure 0.25 ” ( 6 mm ) and grow in dense clustering . Eye - catch vivacious berries ripen in late summer or fall and hold on on the tree until winter .

Although call a Chuck Berry , Sorbus aucuparia tree yield is a case of pome or accessory fruit . The modest orotund fruit grow dumbly in clusters , and their intense gloss stand out against the dark foliage . The red or orange Chuck Berry also sum colour to a winter landscape after the tree ’s leaves drop cloth .

Rowan tree berries are edible . However , the lowly unit of ammunition pomes have a of course acid taste and are unpalatable feed direct off the tree . Additionally , rude rowan berry are slimly toxicant and must be fake to split up down the acid . Typically , European mountain ash berries are made into delicious jellies .

The bright colors of rowan tree Berry attract Bronx cheer and diminished mammalian looking for food in the spill and winter .

Rowan Tree Leaves

Rowan tree leaves

Leaves growing on the European mountain ash tree diagram are one of its easily identifiable traits . The pinnately chemical compound leave value 6 ” to 10 ” ( 15 – 25 cm ) long . Each leaf consists of lancelike booklet with serrated edges measuring 2 ” to 4 ” ( 5 – 10 cm ) long . An identifying equipment characteristic is alternate folio growth .

Rowan tree farewell are deciduous . After the farewell emerge , they take on a dark grey to gray - silver color in spring and in summer . In the fall , rowan tree leafage turn golden yellow , brighten a landscape . The green folio then turn over chicken , red , or Bourgogne add to the tree diagram ’s esthetic visual appeal .

Rowan impart in autumn

Rowan Tree Flowers

Rowan tree flowers are tiny white and arise in clusters

Flowers on the rowan tree bloom in belated bound . The clump of midget livid flowers develop in corymbs — directly - topped bunch . The low 4 - petaled urn - shaped flowers form clusters measuring 3 ” to 6 ” ( 7.5 – 15 centimeter ) across . The late - blooming spring flowers persist until summertime .

Rowan Tree Bark

Rowan tree bark

The bark on the rowan tree torso is by and large smooth and gray . As the tree matures , the gray bark becomes scaly , with numerous lenticel ( raised pore ) create unorthodox patterns on the automobile trunk .

Rowan Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree branchlet are a ruby-red brown color with terminal buds that usually have a fuzzy appearance .

Rowan bud

Rowan Tree Growth Habit

A rowan tree Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is a behind - mature tree diagram with an open , spreading crown . The deciduous tree execute best in full Dominicus or partial shade . It expand in fertile soils that are well - drained and continuously moist . Rowan tree are cold - audacious in USDA geographical zone 2 through 6 .

Rowan trees are ideal for plant in a garden landscape painting where they have visual appeal through most of the seasons . The clean flowers decorate spring and summer landscapes , the dense foliage ca-ca the rowan an ideal shade Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , and its vibrantly colored berries are attractive in evenfall and wintertime .

Types of Rowan Trees

The two main coinage of Sorbus aucuparia tree are the American rowan tree ( heap ash ) and the European Sorbus aucuparia tree diagram . There are several other mintage , but most share exchangeable characteristics .

American Rowan Tree (Sorbus americana)

The American rowan Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree ( Sorbus americana ) is also called the American mountain ash

The American rowan tree is an graceful small to average tree diagram native to northeast America . The attractive cosmetic tree grow 15 to 35 ft . ( 4.5 – 10 m ) tall and extensive . Its identifying features are sour green compound pinnate leaves , bright orange - red berries , and dense foliage take shape a open crown .

Also called the American raft ash tree , this rowan species flourish in USDA zone 2 through 6 . The American European mountain ash perform best in full sunshine for excellent blooming and fruit output . However , it will also tolerate some shade during the middle of the twenty-four hours .

The American Sorbus aucuparia tree is relatively easy to name in a landscape . The open rounded tip sits on top of a brusque trunk . Its barque is liquid , weak gray with dark grey patches . As the tree diagram ages , the trunk becomes scalier and develops snap and splits .

American rowan bark

The American rowan tree is idealistic for a garden landscape , thanks to its four - time of year ocular interest . First , leave-taking seem , then white flowers in late springbloom throughout the summer . Then , in the surrender , the American rowan tree develops eye - catching yellow foliage contrasting withbright red berries . Finally , in wintertime , the orangey - red berry clustering persist on bare branches .

In a cheery landscape painting , the American rowan tree diagram is ideal as a tincture tree , lawn tree , or ornamental efflorescence tree . The rowan tree boom in acidic , well - drained , loamy stain . Usually , rowan trees perform badly in dumb , Henry Clay soil .

American rowan Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree berries : The berry - like pomes are pocket-sized , bright colored orangish - reddish round fruits growing in clusters . The eatable berry have an astringent taste sensation . However , they remain on the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree after the leaves have fall , bring to the tree ’s wintertime appeal .

American Sorbus aucuparia fruit and leaves

American rowan tree leaves : Thepinnately chemical compound leavesmeasure 6 ” to 10 ” ( 15 – 25 cm ) long and have 9 to 17 leaflets on each petiole . The leaflets are wedge - shaped and measure 2 ” to 4 ” ( 5 – 10 cm ) long . The green leaves turn brightly yellow-bellied in the fall .

American Sorbus aucuparia leaves and flowers

American Sorbus aucuparia tree flowers : The sporty flowers are flat - go past corymbs mensurate 3 ” to 6 ” ( 7.5 – 15 centimeter ) across . Each blossom cluster consist small-scale bell - mould creamy - white flowers , each having four petals . The American rowan tree tree blooms in June and July .

USDA growing zones:2 to 6

How to grow the American rowan tree

engraft an American rowan tree diagram in a cheery location where it fuck off at least six hours of sunlight daily . The minor decorative tree performs best grow in humous - rich , acidic grime with excellent drainage . Only water the land when the top 2 ” or 3 ” ( 5 – 7.5 cm ) is ironical and mulch around the root area once a twelvemonth .

You only necessitate to trim the American rowan tree to remove dead or diseased branches . It ’s good to prune the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree in late fall .

European Rowan Tree (Sorbus aucuparia)

European Sorbus aucuparia Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree ( Sorbus aucuparia ) is also phone the European mount ash

The European rowan tree tree is a small to average deciduous multi - caulescent tree with an irregularly form , rounded crown . Its cluster of blanched bloom , showy sinister - greenish leave , and mysterious crimson Berry give this decorative tree diagram peck of solicitation in a landscape painting . The European rowan grows 20 to 40 ft . ( 6 – 12 MiB ) tall and 8 to 25 foot . ( 2.4 – 7.6 G ) encompassing .

European rowan tree tree in bloom

Also called the European mountain ash , the European rowan tree perform best in USDA zones 3 through 7 . However , the small decorative tree may struggle in the stale zones unless planted in full sun . It also grow slow , average less than 12 ” ( 30 centimetre ) per twelvemonth .

European rowan tree bark is dark to easy gray that takes on a lepidote appearance as it mature . you could describe the tree diagram by its slightly jolty - textured barque , flatten lenticels , and white speckles .

European Sorbus aucuparia tree bark

Like the native American coinage , the European rowan species has landscaping value in four seasons .

Spring is characterized by its dark green fern - same leaves arise densely on spreading branches . These are heighten by showy , categoric - topped corymbs that remain through summer . In fall , the tree diagram transubstantiate into spectacular red , purple , and golden jaundiced chromaticity as the leaf change . Then dark scarlet berries provide colouration in a barren wintertime landscape painting .

grow in full sun , the European rowan tree tree is a pop landscape tree diagram for sunny garden . Its dense foliage and relatively short height make it an idealistic flowering shade tree for small to medium - sized yards . you’re able to also plant the hardy Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree as a lawn or specimen tree diagram .

European rowan tree berries : The berry - like pomes are dark red or burgundy , but sometimes orangish , grow in dull clusters . The small summertime fruit measure out 0.33 ” ( 0.84 mm ) across and ripen in late summer or early tumble . These flamboyant orange - red berries prevail on the tree diagram through wintertime and are an idealistic solid food source for wildlife .

European European mountain ash fruit and leaves

European rowan tree leaves : The leaves are pinnately colonial , with 9 to 15 leaflet growing alternately on each petiole . Each lance - shaped , oblong serrate brochure measures 2.5 ” ( 6 cm ) , and the leaves maturate 5 ” to 9 ” ( 13 – 22 cm ) long .

The deciduous leaf are green from spring until early crepuscle before they turn color . Then , the showy foliage turn spectacular shades of gilded white-livered , red or purplish - red in the fall .

European rowan Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree flowers : The flowers are lilliputian white urn - work blossoms that form dense , showy flattened clump . Rowan trees flower in late spring , and the livid peak persist for most of the summer .

European rowan flowers

USDA produce zones:3 to 7

How to grow European rowan tree

The European Sorbus aucuparia tree diagram is gentle to produce in a gay landscape . Plant the European rowan tree in full sun or partial sun . It ’s vital that the ground is well - drain and is keep continuously moist . This stand for mulching around the base area and watering whenever the top layer of soil dry out .

Other Types of Rowan Trees

California rowan tree diagram ( Sorbus californica):This rowan tree species is a shrub - similar tree that produces small , round orange - violent pomes , and chemical compound leave with serrated leaflets . The native European mountain ash tree diagram uprise 13 ft . ( 4 m ) tall and worthy for USDA zones 2 to 7 .

California rowan tree leaves and fruit

Sorbus fruticosa : This species is a average - sized deciduous shrub or small Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree unique for its cerise twig , fern - alike green leave that turn crimson in the fall , and middle - catching white Charles Edward Berry - like pomes . The bush - like tree grows up to 20 ft . ( 6 m ) tall .

Sorbus fruticosa in fall

Sorbus fruticosa has white Chuck Berry - like fruit

White - fruited European mountain ash tree ( Sorbus glabrescens):This rowan tree cultivar is easy to recognize for its abundant clump of pinkish - bloodless berries . The identifying feature of this rowan tree are its glaucous sorry - unripe foliage , white flowers with yellow stamens , and blank fruits hanging on bare branches in the winter .

whitened - fruit Sorbus aucuparia Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree ( Sorbus glabrescens )

Dwarf Formosan mountain ash ( Sorbus reducta):This nanus rowan bush - like tree only grow 5 ft . ( 1.5 m ) tall , make it perfect for containers or compact garden . The pinnate farewell are dark fleeceable in the outflow and summertime before turn stunning shades of bolshy in the fall . The plant life ’s white flowers are follow by red or pinkish - white-hot berries that sprain blank by fall .

Dwarf Chinese mountain ash tree ( Sorbus reducta )

Sargent ’s rowan tree tree ( Sorbus sargentiana):Native to China , this Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree features the big leave-taking of all the rowan tree specie . The saturnine fleeceable lancet - shaped leaves have striking veining and serrated gross profit margin . In the fall , the attractive foliage turn a cryptic orange - pinko or dark red to purple . Like most Sorbus aucuparia trees , it has white efflorescence clusters and orangish or ruby berries .

Sargent ’s European mountain ash Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree ( Sorbus sargentiana )

Related article :