Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia)
Description of Rowan / Rowanberry:
The Rowan is a versatile tree with historical, culinary, and medicinal significance.
Rowan is a deciduous tree that can grow up to 15 meters in height. It has silvery-grey bark, and its leaves consist of five to eight pairs of stretched oval leaflets with serrated edges and a similar-shaped terminal leaflet. In late spring, it produces creamy white flowers in dense clusters, followed by bright orange-red berries in late summer/early autumn.
Habitat of Rowan / Rowanberry:
It is found in various habitats, including woodlands, high altitudes, and gardens.
Food Uses of Rowan / Rowanberry:
The Rowan tree offers various edible parts, including flowers and berries. The flowers can be used to make jams, jellies, syrups, cordials, or for infusing cream or milk. The berries, high in vitamin C, must be cooked before consumption due to their bitterness, caused by the presence of sorbic acid. Historically, almost all parts of the Rowan tree have been used as a wild edible, including the bark, twigs, buds, leaves, and sap.
Medicinal Uses of Rowan / Rowanberry:
Rowan has a long history of use in traditional medicine. The berries and bark have been prescribed for stomach disorders, bleeding, sore eyes, rheumatism, asthma, and colds. The leaves have been used to make remedies for various ailments. The astringent properties of the berries and bark may support these traditional uses. However, it is important to use caution, as the berries can irritate the stomach when taken in excess.
Other Uses of Rowan / Rowanberry:
The wood of the Rowan tree is hard and elastic, with various commercial uses in woodcraft, from baskets and cartwheels to kitchen utensils and crates. The berries were once used to make an anti-ageing skin mask, and the branches produce a black dye.
Safety Note - Rowan / Rowanberry:
Consuming Rowan berries in excess may irritate the stomach, and there are warnings that the seeds may be toxic and cause poisoning. Safety information about Rowan during pregnancy or breastfeeding is limited, so it is best to avoid its use during these times.
The Rowan tree's versatility, from its use as a food source to its traditional medicinal applications, has made it an important and historically significant species. Its bright orange-red berries are not only a valuable food source for birds but also have provided essential nutrients, including vitamin C, making it a resource that has been cherished for centuries.