Sorbus - Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia)

Our range of Rowan bare root trees (Sorbus aucuparia)

We have Sorbus aucuparia bare root plants in several sizes and specifications.   The 1+0 specification plants are seedlings (often called whips) which were sown from seed in the spring and are sold during the following November to April months when dormant ie they are one year old.  We have Sorbus aucuparia bare root whips in several heights.

The 1U1 specification plants are seedlings/whips which were planted from seed in the spring and instead of being sold in the following November to April period they are kept in situ in our fields and grown on for a further year which makes a strong bushy plant.  Their roots are undercut by specialised machine to help develop a fibrous root system.

We also have Sorbus aucuparia transplants which begin as one year old whips which are lifted, have their roots trimmed to encourage bushy growth and are then planted back out for one or more growing seasons in a different area of our fields at lower density to give each plant more space, nutrients and water. The specification 1+1 means that a one year old seedling has been grown on for an additional one year. 

All of these plants are grown by us on our farm in Herefordshire.

We always have several batches of seed of Sorbus aucuparia including UK provenance and the highest quality imported seed so if the seed provenance is particularly important to you, please give us a call so that we can allocate plants from the most appropriate batch.

We also have cell grown Sorbus aucuparia plants which are grown by one of the UK's best specialist growers and these are ideal for forestry, woodland creation and amenity planting schemes.  Cell grown plants are available all year round.

You can read more about the various specifications we offer in each species on the tab just below our pricing table to the right of this product description.

Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) Summary

Rowan (meaning "bird catching" trees from when hedgerows were netted to catch the songbirds), perhaps the prettiest of our natives trees, have the alternative name of mountain ash and that’s a dead giveaway that they do well in mountainous, high altitude situations particularly on the western side of Britain – in Scotland, the Lake District, and Wales.  They don’t much like hard surfaces so are not suitable to be used as in paved urban areas and they do not grow tall enough to make a good timber tree, but they are very useful in woodland settings due to their virtually year round flowers/berries which offer terrific wildlife value. They flower profusely and their orange/red berries which hang in large bunches are much appreciated by a range of birds.  There are very many cultivated varieties of Rowan tree but the one we grow is the native variety.

The wood is not renowned for its suitability for timber (Sorbus trees rarely grow to a sufficient size) but it is pliable and will not shatter under tension. A young rowan tree will bend all the way to the ground and then spring back straight again, as part of the trees' defence against wind and a function of their tensile strength.

Its upright habit makes it ideal as a hedgerow tree and its crop of red berries are very popular with blackbirds and thrushes.

Soil and Situation

Ideal conditions for Rowan trees are neutral to slightly acidic soils, well drained, moderately fertile soil but Rowan trees will grow on rocky outcrops – anything but heavy clay or very wet soils.  Rowans are a pioneer species of tree so prefer open sunlight.  They are good at high altitudes (hence Mountain Ash alternative name).

Leaves, flowers and fruit

The leaves are pinnate, and have 5 – 8 pairs of leaflets plus one at the end.  The leaflets are oval and toothed.  Leaves turn good autumn colours.  The flowers are creamy/white colour 5 petal drops in large trusses, strongly scented and excellent for a wide range of pollinating insects.  From these, orange/red berries (also in large clusters) develop, and the astringent fruits are very popular with a wide range of birds, particularly blackbirds, bullfinches and waxwings.  The fruits can be eaten by humans once cooked (generally as a jelly rich in vitamin C) but are poisonous to us when raw.  They must pass through the acid gut of a bird before the seeds can germinate.  Because of it's profuse berries and tolerance of altitude, Rowan trees are a very useful source of winter food for birds and deer will eat the bark, lichen and leaves.

The trunk and branches are smooth silver grey, often dappled with lichens and the winter buds are dark purple and slightly hairy.  The emerging leaves have a silvery tint, and the twigs are dark red.

Eventual height and growth rate

This is a medium sized tree growing to about 10m, with average growth rate.

This section gives definitions on the specifications of plants that we sell.  We are specialists in field grown (or bare root) plants which are grown in two ways.  The majority are grown from seed, some are ready within one growing season (seedlings or 1+0's) and some species require two growing seasons (1u1's).  In addition to growing from seed we also grow from small plants or cuttings (transplants) which are much more widely spaced (taking more land, more irrigation water, fertilisers and labour).  There are only a handful of bare root wholesale nurseries in the UK and of those even fewer grow transplants but Ray Jenkins has many years' experience of transplanting so we grow these in large volumes.  Ray has written this blog about the benefits of bare root plants and how they are grown and another blog which gives further detail on bare root specifications.

The detailed specifications are shown below.  If you are in doubt about what specification to use please email us on enquiries@rjtreesandhedging.co.uk with a description of the project (and photos if appropriate) and we will advise you.

1+0 - field grown in one season from seed, known as a seedling (sometimes called a whip), generally a slender single stem plant.   These are the cheapest specification and are particularly suitable for planting where weed competition will be less intense, soil is shallow or on exposed windy sites.  Gives a high root to shoot ratio and minimal plant "check".

2+0 - a 2 year seedling, field grown from seed in the same seed bed in two growing seasons where the species cannot be grown to a saleable plant from seed in one season

1U1 - 2 year old plant called an undercut, field grown for two seasons in the same seed bed and undercut by machine (a sharp blade cutting the roots under the soil level) after the first year to develop the root structure. We do this with several species which take 2 years to develop (eg oak, beech, hornbeam)

1+1 - 2 year old plant (transplant) grown from seed in the first year and then transplanted into a different area of the field and spaced out for the second growing season - a robust plant with a larger and more robust root system than seedling or undercut plant which will enable it to better withstand drought and weed competition. Often the best choice and the staple norm for farm hedging and this specification is a requirement of the Countryside Stewardship Grant

1+2- a 3 year old plant, two years field growing in the seedbed and then transplanted (and spaced out) for a further two growing seasons giving a tall, stocky, bushy plant

2+1- a 3 year old plant, two years field growing in the seedbed and then transplanted (and spaced out) for a further growing season, giving a strong bushy plant

3+1 - as above but field grown for a further growing season for more height and a very bushy plant

1+3- 4 year old, one year field growing in the seed beds and then transplanted (and spaced out) for three years, giving a very strong, bushy plant

2+2- 4 year old, two years field growing in the seed beds and then transplanted (and spaced out) for a further two years - a very mature plant suited to certain species like beech and hornbeam where we can offer almost instant hedging

and some that are a bit different.....

P9 - a plant grown in a greenhouse or polytunnel in a 9cm pot (for holly which germinates poorly in the field)

Cell grown - a plant grown in small deep cells (like a small yogurt pot) and then lifted out of those for transportation. Commonly used in forestry and large hedging projects.  Very high quality plants with excellent success rate.  See our blog on the benefits of cell grown plants.

C+1 or C+2 - a 3 or 4 year old plant initally started as hardwood cuttings grown on for a year as cell grown plants and then lined out in fields to grow on for a further 1 or 2 years (a technique used for Cherry Laurel)

0/1 - a hardwood cutting, then field grown for one season (for example for white willow, black poplar and osier)