Rowan is steeped in folklore and believed to ward off evil, earning names such as 'Witchen'. It is also called Mountain Ash, for leaves superficially like Common Ash and its ability to survive exposed sites. Its presence in barren uplands reflects not preference but that it is one of few trees able to grow despite overgrazing by livestock and deer.
Native across all of north-western Europe and beyond to Russia, Iran, Central Asia and China, ranging in latitude from inside the Arctic Circle south to North Africa. Native to Britain and Ireland and present almost everywhere, in woodland glades and edges, hedgerows, cliffs, riversides, moorland and waste ground.
Monoecious, producing corymbose heads of hermaphrodite flowers in early summer, which are insect-pollinated. Its small pomes (fruits) are distributed mainly by birds.
Small (15m), occasionally taller when sheltered, often multi-stemmed with steeply ascending limbs. Bark smooth, bright grey, often with dark horizontal lenticel bands. Twigs grey-purple, soon smooth; buds dark purple-black (15mm), hairy. Foliage turns bright yellow-orange in autumn. Leaves 12-25cm, compound pinnate, usually with 6-8 pairs of oblong leaflets serrated beyond the lower third. Flowers small (9mm), creamy-white in corymbs, sweet but faintly carrion-scented. Fruit an orange-scarlet pome (10mm) in clusters. Common Ash differs: smooth leaflet margins.
Extremely cold-hardy and able to withstand conditions from polluted city gardens to exposed mountainsides. It regenerates readily from seed and tolerates most soils except waterlogged ones, but is equally intolerant of drought. It prefers sunny sites, either open-grown or on woodland margins.
Insects, especially bees and beetles, feed on its pollen and nectar. Its plentiful winter berries are a significant food for birds, especially resident and overwintering thrushes including Fieldfares (Turdus pilaris) and Redwings (T. iliacus). A pioneer, it is important in many habitats, particularly Scotland's Caledonian Forest, where with Downy Birch it helps Scots Pine and Sessile Oak regenerate.
Generally a healthy species. Highly palatable to deer. Projected to lose suitable habitat in Ireland and west Scotland under a changing climate.
Rowan makes an attractive small-garden and street specimen, supporting urban wildlife. Its berries are traditionally made into a jelly served with game, and its timber was once valued for bow staves, considered second only to European Yew.
