canopy layer
rowan
sorbus aucuparia
a small tree that pulls birds into the system — and birds bring pest control and seed dispersal with them. berries feed twenty-plus species.
functions
wildlife habitatpollinator foragefood crop
field guide
native to
Europe and Asia, to high altitude
height
8–15 m
spread
to 7 m
hardiness
RHS H7 · USDA 3–7
light
part shade
moisture
moderate
soil
light, acid to neutral
uses
in the kitchen
berries are too bitter raw but cook into a sharp jelly, high in vitamin C
harvest
berries in autumn — the birds will race you
propagation
sow seed after a period of cold stratification
season
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grower's notes
memberspropagation, guild role, and deeper ecology for rowan — the members' view.
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relationships — grows well with
see rowan on the relationship map →