Sorbus aucuparia

'Rowan / Mountain Ash'

[Ex. Co. Durham, England]

A very hardy small tree to 20m, with 11 to 19 sharp toothed leaflets per leaf. Creamy white flowers appear in dense heads in May, followed by colourful bright red fruits form dense bunches in late summer, the berries are a favourite food for birds in winter. Found in woodland and open land on a variety of soils, apart from very wet ones, and grows at a higher altitude on mountains than many other species. It is highly tolerant of extreme acidity and easy to grow. A native of a wide area of Europe, including Britain and Ireland.

USES:   

The fruit can be used either raw or cooked, the fruit is very acid and large quantities of the raw fruit can cause stomach upsets. It can be used to make delicious, if slightly acidulous, jams and preserves.

The bark is astringent, it is used in the treatment of diarrhoea and as a vaginal injection for leucorrhoea. The fruit is antiscorbutic and astringent, and are normally used as a jam or an infusion to treat diarrhoea and haemorrhoids. An infusion can also be used as a gargle for sore throats and as a wash to treat haemorrhoids and excessive vaginal discharge. The seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides which, in reaction with water, produce the extremely toxic prussic acid. In small quantities this acts as a stimulant to the respiratory system but in larger doses can cause respiratory failure and death, it is therefore best to remove the seeds when using the fruit medicinally or as a food. Both the flowers and the fruit are aperient, mildly diuretic, and laxative and emmenagogue, an infusion is used in the treatment of painful menstruation, constipation and kidney disorders.

GROWING INFORMATION:

Seeds germinate better if given 2 weeks’ warmth then 14 - 16 weeks’ cold stratification, so sow it as early in the year as possible.

HARVESTED: 2020

 

APPROX. 50+ SEEDS