European Mountain Ash or Rowan Tree
Sorbus aucuparia (ROSACEAE)
Planting and Growing European Mountain Ash Trees
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow European mountain ash or Rowan trees in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, and fruit of European mountain ash or Rowan tree
- Growing conditions for European mountain ash or Rowan tree
- When to plant European mountain ash or Rowan tree
- How to plant European mountain ash or Rowan tree
- How to prune European mountain ash or Rowan tree
- Watering, fertilizing, and care of European mountain ash or Rowan tree
- Landscape uses of European mountain ash or Rowan tree
- Pest and disease control for European mountain ash or Rowan tree
Growing European Mountain Ash Trees
Several cultivars of medium-growing, upright, oval- or round-crowned, dense, deciduous trees, to 60 ft. (18 m) tall, with frondlike, green leaves, 4–10 in. (10–25 cm) long, divided into 13- or 15-paired, blade-shaped, sharp-toothed leaflets, to 2-1/2 in. (63 mm) long, turning red in autumn, and with gray brown bark.
European mountain ash are in a genus that is distinct from true Ash, or Fraxinus species [see: Ash].
European Mountain Ash Planting Guide
Flowers and Fruit
Many showy, white flowers, to 1/4 in. (6 mm) wide, borne in flat clusters in spring, form round, orange, red, mealy, berrylike, clustered fruit, to 1/4 in. (6 mm) wide, in late summer.
Best Climates
U.S.D.A. Plant Hardiness Zones 1–9. Best with winter chill and mild summers.
Soil Type and Fertility
Moist, well-drained soil. Fertility: Rich–average. 6.0–7.0 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Full sun. Space 10–15 ft. (3–4.5 m) apart.
Proper Care
Easy. Allow soil surface to dry between waterings until established. Fertilize annually in spring until established. Prune to shape in autumn. Protect from sun, wind in hot climates. Propagate by budding, layering, seed.
About This Species
Good choice for accents, containers, espaliers in small-space gardens and landscape beds. Drops staining fruit, requiring maintenance. Sawfly, scale and canker, fireblight susceptible.