Rowan tree – low-maintenance color all year round
The rowan tree (rowan) is a wonderful addition to the garden for anyone who wants a colorful yet easy-to-care-for tree. It is hardy, thrives in most environments, and offers something beautiful in every season. In spring, the rowan produces creamy white flower clusters, during summer it spreads its lush green foliage, and toward late summer clusters of glowing berries ripen. Autumn crowns the rowan with blazing fall colors in red and orange. For beginners, a rowan tree is perfect because it requires minimal care but gives maximum reward in the form of beauty and life in the garden. At the same time, even experienced growers can appreciate the rowan’s versatility and the exciting new cultivars that have appeared on the market.
Popular rowan varieties for the garden
There are many species and varieties of rowan to choose from – from small, bushy forms to taller trees. Here are some common, worthwhile rowans for garden cultivation:
Common rowan (Sorbus aucuparia): Our native classic rowan becomes a medium-sized tree (often 5–10 m tall) with pinnate leaves and orange-red berries. It is very hardy (tolerates climates in essentially the entire country) and thrives in sun as well as partial shade. Common rowan exists in several forms, such as columnar rowan (narrow-growing) and weeping rowan (with drooping branches). A named cultivar worth mentioning is ‘Edulis’ (sweet rowan), which produces extra sweet berries that can be eaten or cooked into jelly and jam.
Ullung rowan ‘Dodong’ (Sorbus ulleungensis ‘Dodong’): A popular rowan variety originally from Korea, introduced by Swedish botanists. Ullung rowan grows as an elegant tree about 6–8 m tall with slightly larger, glossy leaves. It is especially notable in autumn with spectacular fall color in orange and red. The berry clusters are orange-red and very decorative. ‘Dodong’ is relatively fast-growing and hardy (hardy at least up to central Sweden).
Whitebeam rowan (Sorbus koehneana): A small rowan that is excellent for smaller gardens. It grows only about 2–3 m tall and can grow multi-stemmed like a large shrub. Whitebeam rowan produces masses of small chalk-white berries that remain for a long time (birds often leave them alone) and shine like pearls during autumn and early winter. The leaves also develop a beautiful red fall color. Whitebeam rowan is easy to grow and withstands the climate in large parts of the country (hardy up to zone 4–5).
Carmencita rowan (Sorbus commixta ‘Carmencita’): A Japanese rowan in a smaller format, ideal for those with limited space. It grows only about 3–4 m tall. Carmencita rowan has finely divided, dark green leaves that turn orange-red in autumn. In late summer, the tree is adorned with masses of glossy red-orange berries. Thanks to its neat size and graceful growth habit, ‘Carmencita’ works well as a specimen tree in small gardens or even in a more spacious border. Hardiness is good (though not as extreme as common rowan – roughly up to zone 3), which covers conditions in southern and central Sweden.
(Beyond these, there are many other exciting rowans, but the ones above are among the most common and easiest to grow for garden use.)
Planting and placement
Position: Rowan trees are adaptable and thrive in both sun and partial shade. If you plant your rowan in a sunny position, you will usually get more intense fall colors and heavier fruiting, but it also tolerates shade relatively well. Rowans are also hardy and robust – they tolerate wind and handle varying climate conditions well. Most varieties can be grown in much of the country, but check the hardiness of the variety you have chosen if you live in a harsher climate.
Soil: Rowan is not particularly demanding about soil conditions. It grows well in both poor, sandy soil and heavier clay soils, as long as there is reasonable drainage. Avoid waterlogged sites – water that stands around the roots can lead to oxygen deficiency and rot. If the soil is very compacted or nutrient-poor, mix a bit of compost or humus into the planting hole to give the young tree a good start. Once established, rowan tolerates light drought, but during the first season after planting it is important to water regularly so the roots develop properly.
Planting: You can plant container-grown rowans virtually throughout the growing season – spring, summer, or autumn – as long as the ground is not frozen. Autumn is often considered ideal because the soil is moist and the tree has time to root before winter. Dig a generous hole (at least twice as wide as the root ball) and place the tree so that the top of the root ball is level with the soil surface. Backfill with soil, firm lightly, and water thoroughly. If it is a taller young tree, you may need to support it with a stake during the first years until the roots anchor it well. Feel free to cover the soil around the trunk with bark or grass clippings as a mulching, moisture-retaining layer.
Placement in the garden: Rowan trees work both as solitary specimen trees and in groups. In a small garden, a single rowan can become a beautiful focal point without taking up too much space – especially a smaller variety such as Sorbus koehneana or Carmencita rowan. If you have larger areas, several rowans together can form a grove-like planting that gives the garden a natural character. Keep in mind that common rowan and ‘Dodong’ can become relatively tall over time, so give them space to grow upward without shading sensitive borders. One tip is to place the rowan where you can see it from the house, so you can enjoy the flowers, fall colors, and birdlife around the tree.
Care of rowan
One of the greatest advantages of rowan is that it is very easy to care for – perfect for beginners or anyone who wants a beautiful garden without too much maintenance. Here are a few care tips:
Watering: As mentioned, newly planted rowans require regular watering during the first growing season. Water thoroughly from time to time so the soil is moistened deeply; this encourages roots to grow downward. Once the tree is established (from the second season onward), it handles periods of drought very well, but extreme drought in midsummer can be met with an extra watering can if needed.
Fertilizer: Rowans often do fine without extra feeding in normal garden soil, but to encourage abundant flowering and lots of berries you can add a little boost each spring. Work in organic fertilizer such as compost or well-rotted manure around the root zone early in spring. This gives the tree an energy kick before the season. Alternatively, you can sprinkle a small amount of natural fertilizer or complete fertilizer according to directions. Do not overdo it; rowan does not need much to thrive.
Pruning: In general, rowan trees do not need regular pruning – they develop a nice natural shape on their own. If you do need to thin or shape the tree, for example to remove crossing or damaged branches, do it in late summer or early autumn. The rowan “bleeds” less sap then compared to early spring. You can also remove low branches if you want to be able to walk under the tree or give it a more raised canopy. Always use clean, sharp secateurs/saw to make good cuts.
Wintertime & protection: Older rowans handle winter without measures, but young trees can attract hares, deer, and rodents that may gnaw the bark when other food is scarce. To avoid trunk damage, put a trunk guard (for example a gnaw-proof spiral or mesh) around the lower decimeters of the trunk during winter in the first years. As the trunk thickens, the risk decreases. Otherwise, rowan is rarely affected by serious pests or diseases – it is a generally healthy genus. Watch for possible aphids in spring/summer; if they appear you can rinse branches with water or let small birds do the job for you (birds gladly eat the pests).
In summary, caring for rowan is simple: regular watering at the start, a little fertilizer annually if desired, minimal pruning, and protecting the trunk from wildlife. Nature takes care of the rest!
Ornamental value and uses of rowan
The rowan tree’s aesthetic value extends throughout the year. In spring you enjoy the delicate white flower clusters that attract bumblebees and butterflies. Summer offers beautiful, leafy foliage – the leaves are usually pinnate (rowan’s typical leaves almost look like fern fronds) and give the tree an airy impression. When late summer and autumn arrive, the show is in full swing: clusters of berries ripen and shift into strong colors depending on the variety – from classic rowan red and orange to yellow, pink, or pure white in different species. At the same time, the foliage turns to blazing autumn colors in shades of yellow, orange, and red, especially if the tree stands in sun. Many rowan varieties, such as ‘Dodong’, develop an almost glowing autumn display that few other trees can match.
In winter, if not all the berries have been eaten, the remaining clusters decorate the bare branches and brighten the garden against the snow. Especially white or yellow-orange berries can remain far into winter and become decorative “nature’s own Christmas ornaments”. Even the rowan’s bark and buds can add ornamental value – some species have attractive bark, and the thick winter buds are rust-red and downy, which looks beautiful on bare twigs.
In addition to its beauty, the rowan tree also has practical value in the garden. The berries are an invaluable food source for birds. If you plant a rowan, you can expect visits from waxwings, thrushes, and other small birds that feast on the berries in autumn and winter. This brings wonderful life to the garden during the time of year when it might otherwise be quite quiet. In addition, the birds help you keep pests in check during summer as thanks for the berry buffet in autumn. Rowan flowers benefit pollinators such as bees and butterflies, which is positive for the entire garden ecosystem.
Rowan berries can also be useful for us humans. They are very rich in vitamin C and have traditionally been used for jelly, marmalade, and cordial. Common rowan berries are quite astringent and bitter raw, but after a frosty night the flavor softens somewhat. If you want to make your own rowan jelly, the tip is to pick the berries in late autumn after the first frost, or place them in the freezer overnight before cooking, to bring out more sweetness. Rowan jelly is excellent with game and poultry dishes. If you have planted the ‘Edulis’ (sweet rowan) variety, you can get extra sweet berries that are especially suitable for such culinary experiments. Remember not to take all the berries – leave some for hungry birds.
Author: Emma Vogiatzi
Fact-checked by: Erik Hoekstra
Last updated: 2025-11-28