Species library · Plants & herbs

Foraging Rowan

Sorbus aucuparia

Typically in season from July to October in the northern hemisphere. Found in Woodland, Woodland edges. Has toxic lookalikes, so check carefully.

Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia)

Photo: (c) Hans Kylberg, some rights reserved (CC BY) · iNaturalist

When Rowan is in season

Typical window in the northern hemisphere, peak July to October. The southern hemisphere runs about six months offset, and your own timing depends on local weather, so check your town.

→ Everything in season to forage in September

Where it grows

Rowan is usually found in Woodland, Woodland edges.

⚠ Look-alikes & safety

Toxic look-alikes: red elderberry, tree cotoneaster, wild service tree. Only forage with a confident ID.

Take Rowan into the field

Open Rowan in the Forage app for its full field guide entry with more photos, key features and toxic lookalikes to check against. Add it to your watchlist and the app pings you the moment it comes into season at your exact spot, worked out from live weather, elevation and billions of occurrence records.

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Rowan: common questions

When is Rowan in season?

Rowan is generally in season from July to October in temperate northern regions. The exact timing shifts with latitude, elevation and each year's weather. Check the Season Finder for your own location.

Where does Rowan grow?

Rowan is usually found in Woodland, Woodland edges.

Is Rowan safe to forage?

Toxic look-alikes: red elderberry, tree cotoneaster, wild service tree. Only forage with a confident ID. Never eat any wild plant, berry, nut or mushroom unless you are completely certain of the identification. Check every find against a reliable field guide, and when in doubt, don't.

One note before you head out

Forage helps you discover and identify wild plants, but identification is never 100% certain. Many edible plants have toxic lookalikes. Never eat anything you find based only on what this app tells you. Always confirm with a field guide, an experienced forager or a local expert. The season score tells you where to look, too: it’s not a guarantee. Mind conservation law and property rights as well.

Species photos via Wikimedia Commons and iNaturalist · full credits