Pollinator plant

European mountain ash

Sorbus aucuparia

Linked agroforestry plant data
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Common names

51 names · 36 languages
EnglishYour language
+4 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (35)
Dutch
French
Armenian
  • արոսենի սովորական[3]
Asturian
Belarusian
  • Рабіна звычайная[3]
Bulgarian
  • Офика[3]
Catalan
  • moixera de guilla[3]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 欧洲花楸[3]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 歐洲花楸[3]
Czech
  • jeřáb ptačí[3]
Danish
  • Almindelig røn[3]
Estonian
  • harilik pihlakas[3]
Finnish
Galician
German
Hungarian
  • madárberkenye[3]
Icelandic
Irish
Italian
  • Sorbo degli uccellatori[2][3]
Japanese
  • オウシュウナナカマド[3]
  • セイヨウナナカマド[3]
Latvian
  • Parastais pīlādzis[3]
Lithuanian
  • Paprastasis šermukšnis[3]
Northern Sami
Norwegian
Polish
  • jarząb pospolity[3]
Portuguese
Romanian
  • scoruș de munte[3]
Russian
  • Рябина обыкновенная[3]
Slovak
  • jarabina vtáčia[3]
Slovenian
Spanish
Swedish
Turkish
  • kuş üvezi[3]
Ukrainian
  • Горобина звичайна[3]
Welsh
Sources & name notes (6)

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 — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • European Mountain Ash — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Sorbus aucuparia.
[2] Sorbus aucuparia — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • European mountain ash — results[0].names[1]; 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.
  • Eberesche — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • Vogelbeere — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • Dogberry — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • European mountain-ash — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • European Rowan — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • rowan — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • rowan mountain ash — results[0].names[50]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • azarollo — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • Serbal de cazadores — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • Sorbier des oiseaux — results[0].names[49]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • Sorbo degli uccellatori — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • lijsterbes — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • tramazeira — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
[3] 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.
  • wilde lijsterbes — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • Sorbier des oiseleurs — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • Eberesche — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • Vogelbeere — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • Dogberry — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • European mountain-ash — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • European Rowan — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • rowan — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • rowan mountain ash — results[0].names[50]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • azarollo — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • Serbal de cazadores — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • Sorbier des oiseaux — results[0].names[49]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • Sorbo degli uccellatori — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • lijsterbes — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 56063; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • tramazeira — results[0].names[8]; 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
[4] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • mountain ash — Page 2, column 1, row top 352 pt; common-name cell after Sorbus aucuparia.; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • rowan — Page 2, column 1, row top 352 pt; common-name cell after Sorbus aucuparia.; Sorbus aucuparia.
[5] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • mountain ash — Page 2, column 2, row top 682 pt; common-name cell after Sorbus aucuparia.; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • rowan — Page 2, column 2, row top 682 pt; common-name cell after Sorbus aucuparia.; Sorbus aucuparia.
[6] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • mountain ash — Page 5, column 1, row top 112 pt; common-name cell after Sorbus aucuparia.; Sorbus aucuparia.
  • rowan — Page 5, column 1, row top 112 pt; common-name cell after Sorbus aucuparia.; Sorbus aucuparia.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Sorbus aucuparia is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Rosaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
6.1–12.19 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
2.44–7.62 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Erect; Oval; Rounded

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Medium

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Deciduous

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Spring

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Native range
Western Asia and Europe

NC State Extension profile. Origin reported by the source; this is not a claim of local nativeness.

Sources [2]
Pollinator guidance
RHS includes Sorbus aucuparia in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.

RHS planting guidance. Choose accessible flowers with pollen and nectar; reduced-resource and double-flowered forms may be unsuitable.

Sources [3] [4] [5]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Medium suitability
Nectar value Medium
Pollen value Medium
Agroforestry database

Complete plant information

Open full plant profile

Structure

Vegetation layer
Fruit tree
Size
Medium
Dimensions
15.00 m high × 7.00 m wide
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifecycle
Perennial
Foliage
Deciduous

Site conditions

USDA hardiness
3-6
Moisture
Moist
Soil
Sandy, Loamy, Clay
pH
Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
Light
Partial shade, Sun

Uses

Edible parts
Fruit, Leaves, Oil
Functions
Cosmetic, Dye, Oil, Windbreak, Timber, Pollinator plant
Edibility
2 out of 5
Medicinal value
2 out of 5

The fruit can be eaten both raw and cooked, but it is known for its sour taste. Large amounts of the raw fruit can cause stomach discomfort. It is suitable for making delicious, slightly sour jam and can also be dried and used as flour (mixed with grain). The fruit, with a diameter of about 7.5 mm, grows in large clusters, which makes harvesting easier. The leaves and flowers can be used as a tea substitute.

Sources and references

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

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Sorbus aucuparia — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 1241561; ID 4YB93; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 1241561; ID 4YB93; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Sorbus aucuparia — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonNative range
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Native range: Country Or Region Of Origin

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Wildflowers

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 2, column 2, entry Sorbus aucuparia (top 682 pt)

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Garden Plants

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 5, column 1, entry Sorbus aucuparia (top 112 pt)

    Source checked on .

  5. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Plants Of The World

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 2, column 1, entry Sorbus aucuparia (top 352 pt)

    Source checked on .