Rowan trees can be grown in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. They prefer moist but well-drained soil and can thrive in a variety of habitats. When planting, dig a square hole and remove weed roots. Fork the soil to make it pliable. Plant bare-root trees between November and March, and pot-grown trees any time of year unless the soil is frozen. Make sure to have enough space to grow your rowan, as some varieties can grow up to 15m over 50 years.

Pruning and Care

Rowan trees do not require regular pruning, but its recommended to remove dead wood, diseased or injured shoots in early spring. If in poor soil or in the first few years after planting, consider fertilising your rowan to stimulate growth. Apply mature compost in spring or work in an organic, slow-release fertiliser.

Use of Rowan

Rowan is a versatile tree with various uses. Its berries are a favourite food for many birds and are a traditional wild-collected food in Britain and Scandinavia. The tree is also used as a food plant by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species. Rowan fruit contains sorbic acid, which can cause indigestion and kidney damage when raw, but heat treatment or freezing renders it nontoxic.

In addition to its culinary uses, rowan is used in traditional medicine and folklore. In Norse mythology and culture, rowans were dedicated to Thor, represented fertility, and marked sacred places and courts. Rowan cultivars with superior fruit for human food use are available, but not common, and mostly the fruits are gathered from wild trees growing on public lands.

Interesting Facts

Rowan trees can grow up to 15m over 50 years.
Rowan is one of the hardiest European trees, occurring to 71? north in Vard? Municipality in the far northern part of Arctic Norway.
Rowan seeds can be dispersed by birds, and if such droppings land in a fork or hole where old leaves have accumulated on a larger tree, a rowan can grow as an epiphyte on the larger tree, known as a ?flying rowan?.
Rowan is used to make a clear schnapps, liquor, vodka, and wine.