Native to cooler regions of the northern hemisphere and most common in the UK in the north and west, it often naturally grows in high altitude locations but also widely planted as a street or garden tree by landscapers and gardeners. Rowan is also known as mountain ash due to the fact it grows well at high altitudes and its leaves are similar to those of ash, Fraxinus excelsior. However, the trees are not related.
 
Mature trees can grow to 15m in height and can live for up to 200 years. The bark is smooth and silvery grey, and leaf buds are purple and hairy. Leaves compromise of 5-8 pairs of leaflets with a terminal leaflet at the end. Each leaflet is long, oval and toothed. 
 
Flowers provide pollen and nectar for bees and other pollinating insects, while the berries are a rich source of autumn food for birds, especially the blackbird, mistle thrush, redstart, redwing, song thrush, fieldfare and waxwing. 
 
Cooked Rowan berries are edible to humans – they are sour in taste but rich in vitamin C, and can be used to make a jam. Raw berries are toxic to dogs. 
 
In Mythology, Rowan was once widely planted near houses as a protection against witches. The bright red berries have been associated with magic and protection against evil spirits. The Rowan Celtic name, ‘fid na ndruad’, means wizards tree.