Plant Details

Sorbus aucuparia

European mountain ash

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Sorbus aucuparia.

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Common names

50 names · 36 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Dogberry[1]
  • European mountain ash[1]
  • European mountain-ash[1]
+3 more namesShow fewer names
  • European Rowan[1]
  • rowan[1]
  • rowan mountain ash[1]
Other languages (35)
Dutch
  • Gewone lijsterbes
  • lijsterbes[1]
  • Wilde lijsterbes[1]
French
  • Sorbier des oiseaux[1]
  • Sorbier des oiseleurs[1]
Armenian
  • արոսենի սովորական[1]
Asturian
Belarusian
  • Рабіна звычайная[1]
Bulgarian
  • Офика[1]
Catalan
  • moixera de guilla[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 欧洲花楸[1]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 歐洲花楸[1]
Czech
  • jeřáb ptačí[1]
Danish
  • Almindelig røn[1]
Estonian
  • harilik pihlakas[1]
Finnish
Galician
German
Hungarian
  • madárberkenye[1]
Icelandic
Irish
Italian
  • Sorbo degli uccellatori[1]
Japanese
  • オウシュウナナカマド[1]
  • セイヨウナナカマド[1]
Latvian
  • Parastais pīlādzis[1]
Lithuanian
  • Paprastasis šermukšnis[1]
Northern Sami
Norwegian
Polish
  • jarząb pospolity[1]
Portuguese
  • tramazeira[1]
Romanian
  • scoruș de munte[1]
Russian
  • Рябина обыкновенная[1]
Slovak
  • jarabina vtáčia[1]
Slovenian
Spanish
  • azarollo[1]
  • Serbal de cazadores[1]
Swedish
Turkish
  • kuş üvezi[1]
Ukrainian
  • Горобина звичайна[1]
Welsh
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Sorbus aucuparia — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • European mountain ash — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • rowan — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • lijsterbes — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • wilde lijsterbes — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • Sorbier des oiseleurs — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • Vogelbeere — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • tramazeira — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • Eberesche — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • Рябина обыкновенная — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • moixera de guilla — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • pihlaja — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • rönn — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • azarollo — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • European mountain-ash — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • jeřáb ptačí — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • jarząb pospolity — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • 歐洲花楸 — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • Almindelig røn — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • harilik pihlakas — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • Dogberry — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • Sorbo degli uccellatori — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • rogn — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • Capudre — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • Alcafresna — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • Capudre — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • Cancereixo — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • Paprastasis šermukšnis — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • kotipihlaja — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • skáhpi — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • Офика — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • セイヨウナナカマド — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • 欧洲花楸 — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • オウシュウナナカマド — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • Caorthann — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • European Rowan — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • jarabina vtáčia — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • scoruș de munte — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • kuş üvezi — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • Parastais pīlādzis — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • Горобина звичайна — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • Serbal de cazadores — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • Рабіна звычайная — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • jerebika — results[0].names[44]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • արոսենի սովորական — results[0].names[45]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • Reynir — results[0].names[46]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • Criafolen — results[0].names[47]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • madárberkenye — results[0].names[48]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • Sorbier des oiseaux — results[0].names[49]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • rowan mountain ash — results[0].names[50]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.

General information

Scientific name: Sorbus aucuparia
Accepted name (Kew): Sorbus aucuparia L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [4] [5]
Botanical family: Rosaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Sorbus (WCVP v16).

Sources [4]
Also known as: European mountain ash
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Fruit tree
Catalogue size class: Medium
Height: 6.1–12.19 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [1]
Spread: 2.44–7.62 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [1]
Growth rate: Moderate
Sources [1]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [1]
Growth habit: Erect, Oval, Rounded

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [1]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [1]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [1]
Soil moisture:
Moist, Well-drained

Preferred growing conditions. Moisture and drainage are different properties; well-drained soil is not necessarily dry.

Sources [3] [1]
Soil:
Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt)
Sources [1]
pH:
Acid (<6.0)
Sources [1]
Light:
Full sun
Sources [1]

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit, Leaves, Oil
Edibility rating:
(2)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Cosmetic use, Dye, Oil, Windbreak, Wood, Bee forage

Description

Sorbus aucuparia is a deciduous tree with clusters of red-orange fruit. Its fruit is used in cooked preserves. Raw berries should not be eaten.

Cooked preserves are a documented use. RHS also cautions against eating ornamental fruit; this is not a general assurance of safety.

Sources [1] [2] [3]

Harvest

Harvest starts: 15/08
Harvest ends: 31/10

Crown

Crown shape: Round
Crown density: Dense crown

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. NC State Extension Sorbus aucuparia | Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: DescriptionSoil moistureHeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Description; Whole Plant Traits; Edibility; Poison Symptoms and Toxic Principle, where applicable
    • Soil moisture: Cultural Conditions: Soil Drainage
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .

  2. Woodland Trust Rowan jelly: how to find and make it
    Supports: Description
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Rowan berry preparation and cooked jelly use

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Horticultural Society Sorbus aucuparia | rowan
    Supports: DescriptionSoil moisture
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Description; Foliage; Cultivation; Potentially harmful, where applicable
    • Soil moisture: Growing conditions: Moisture; Cultivation

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 855534; name ID 2991335; Sorbus L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 855836; name ID 2991554; Sorbus aucuparia L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  5. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Sorbus aucuparia

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 1241561, ID 4YB93: Sorbus aucuparia L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .