Rowan, (European Mountain Ash), Sorbus aucuparia, Tree Seeds


Hardy, Easy to Grow, Fast Growth, Showy Flowers, Ornamental Fruit, Fall Color, Attracts Birds, Wildlife Food/Shelter, Shade Tree, Street Tree, Cold, Drought and Urban Tolerant, Bonsai


Native to Europe and Asia, European Mountain Ash has been widely planted in northern North America as an ornamental and has naturalized in some parts of Canada and the northern U.S. It is primarily cultivated for its compound green leaves and attractive clusters of fall fruit. It is a fast growing large shrub or small tree that grows 20 to 40 feet tall with a narrow, upright-oval crown, usually rounding and opening with age. Compound, odd-pinnate, flat medium green leaves have 9 to 15 serrate, oblong-lanceolate leaflets (each leaflet to 2 1/2 inches long). Leaves turn yellow to reddish-purple in fall.


Lovely, small, 1/3 inch, white, 5-petaled flowers bloom in flattened corymbs in May. Flowers give way to pendant clusters of orange-red berry-like drupes in late summer that are attractive to birds. The bark is smooth, silvery grey of young trees, becoming scaly pale grey-brown and occasionally fissured on old trees. Mountain Ashes have ash-like leaves, but are members of the Rose family, and are not related to true ashes (Fraxinus of the Olive family).


Rowan Berries are great for adding a splash of color to a landscape and for attracting birds. The fruit is usually very bitter and inedible fresh, but are used to make jam or jelly with a distinctive bitter flavor. Rowan Jelly is a traditional accompaniment to game and venison. In the United Kingdom, where it is often known as the wiggen tree, the Mountain Ash has traditionally been used as an anti-witching device. Its alternate name "Rowan" comes from an old Scandinavian word meaning red. European Mountain Ash is planted for its ornamental qualities and as a source of food for birds.

Leaf: Alternate, pinnately compound, 5 to 8 inches long, individual leaflets are serrated on their upper halves, 1 to 1 1/2 inches long, dull dark green above paler below. Leaves turn yellow to reddish-purple in fall.
Flower: Showy clusters of small white flowers, clusters 3 to 5 inches across, appearing in late spring to early summer.
Fruit: Clusters of bright deep orange-red, small (3/8 inch in diameter) pomes, very showy, ripening in fall, persistent.
Twig: Moderate to stout, pubescent early, becoming shiny gray-brown later in season, spur shoot present, leaf scars narrow, buds 3/8 to 1/2 inch long, reddish brown with long gray pubescences.
Bark: When young, smooth with numerous lenticels, grayish brown, developing cracks, splits and scaly patches with age.
Form: A small tree or large shrub up to 40 feet tall, crown is initially elliptical but becoming wider with age.

Zone: 3 to 7

Growth Rate: Fast

Plant Type: Deciduous large shrub or small tree

Family: Rosaceae

Native Range: Europe and Asia
Height: 20 to 40 feet
Spread: 8 to 20 feet
Shape: Upright oval crown, usually rounding and opening with age.

Bloom Time: May

Bloom Color: White
Flower/Fruit:
Lovely small white flowers that are borne in 4-inch clusters followed by1/4-inch orange berries.

Sun: Full Sun

Fall Color: Yellow to reddish-purple

Water: Medium
Maintenance: Medium

Site Requirements/ Soil Tolerances: Best grown in moist, acidic, well-drained soils in full sun. As the common name suggests, this is a tree of cool mountain climates that dislikes hot and humid summers.

Uses: Ideal specimen in a small garden. A beautiful shade tree. It is air pollution tolerant.


Sowing Sorbus aucuparia Seeds:

For best results, please follow the instructions in the order provided.

Scarify: Soak in water for 24 hours

Stratify: Warm 30-60 Days, Then Cold 60-90 days, 40 Degrees F in a Moist Medium (Not wet).

Germination: Sow 1/8” Deep, Keep moist (Not wet).

For more information about seed pretreatment and growing trees and shrubs from seed, please download this .pdf:

https://cdn.forestresearch.gov.uk/2007/08/fcpg018.pdf


Germination:

  1. Seeds Packets are labeled with seed name and sowing details.
  2. Seeds have not been pretreated unless specified in the listing.
  3. Seed is not a specific Cultivar (Variety) unless specified in the listing.
  4. Due to the many factors involved in successful germination, Seller cannot be responsible for buyers growing methods or mistakes.
  5. I have provided what I believe to be a good overview on this page (which you are free to print for further reference), however, it is still recommended to check specialist literature for more details and practices specific to your climate and soil conditions to avoid mistakes in the germination and growing process.

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