Rowan

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Plant 🌳
🌳
Rowan
Sorbus aucuparia
Size
8–15 m tallAbout the height of a two-storey house
Lifespan
Around 80–100 years, occasionally longer
Rarity
Common
M vs F
Monoecious, with clusters of small white flowers containing both male and female parts
Habitat
Upland woodland, moorland edges, and widely planted in gardens and streets — tolerates poor, rocky soils
Best time
White flower clusters in May; red-orange berries from August, often stripped by birds within weeks
Conservation
LC
💡 Did you know?
Birds love Rowan berries so much that a tree's entire crop can disappear within days of ripening — blackbirds and thrushes often strip them bare!
Rowan was traditionally believed in British and Celtic folklore to protect against witches and evil spirits, and was often planted near houses and in churchyards for this reason.
Often confused with
Ash (larger tree black winter buds no red berries) Elder (smaller different leaf smell black not red berries)
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