Flower profile

European mountain ash

Sorbus aucuparia

European mountain ash (Sorbus aucuparia) is a shrub or small tree in the Rosaceae family, introduced in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–June across the U.S.

Not native to Alaska

European mountain ash is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states.

29states where USDA records it

541AK sightings*

3,927U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Alaska

Quick look

Sorbus aucuparia, commonly called rowan and mountain-ash, is a species of deciduous tree or shrub in the rose family.
From Wikipedia's article Sorbus aucuparia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Rosaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub / a tree with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 29 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as not native to Alaska. ^NatureServe
USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as white. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as late spring. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 40 ft. ^{USDA PLANTS}
iNaturalist has 541 research-grade sightings of it in Alaska, ranking #79 among the 121 flowers on our Alaska list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month in Alaska (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (24 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: G5 Secure worldwide. ^NatureServe
Alaska: No list Alaska has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alaska ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Alaska.
Rare elsewhere: No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleEdible (per NC State Extension)

NC State Extension notes: “The fruit is processed into an alcoholic drink, juice, and vinegar used medicinally and stewed into a tea.” ^{NC State Extension}

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records European mountain ash in 29 states plus Washington, D.C.

AKMEVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILWIMINYRIMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTCAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming; District of Columbia.

Alaska counties with USDA records: Juneau, Ketchikan Gateway, Sitka.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives European mountain ash a medium shade tolerance, low drought tolerance and medium moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 5.5 to 7.5 and winter lows down to -33 °F.

Shade tolerance: Medium
Drought tolerance: Low
Moisture use: Medium
Soil textures it is adapted to: coarse, medium
Soil pH range: 5.5 to 7.5
Minimum temperature tolerated: -33 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum): 110
Annual precipitation range: 28 to 60 inches
Minimum root depth: 28 inches
Salinity tolerance: None
Fertility requirement: Medium
Growth rate: Rapid
Lifespan: Moderate
Active growth period: Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed: Orange · Summer to Fall
Can be propagated by: bare root, container, cuttings, seed
Commercial availability: Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for SOAU. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Alaska: Introduced; Canada: Introduced; Lower 48 states: Introduced; St. Pierre and Miquelon: Introduced.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Pyrus aucuparia.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 152 counties across 22 states; the most are in New York (25), Washington (15), Pennsylvania (14).

Other Sorbus on Bloomipedia (1): Greene's mountain ash.

More from the Rosaceae family (103 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Roses (genus Rosa), Multiflora rose, Mock strawberry, Black cherry, Toyon, Thimbleberry, Wineberry, Black raspberry.

More Alaska flowers

Salmonberry

Rubus spectabilis

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Roses (genus Rosa)

Rosa

★ NY state flower🌷 Garden flower

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Prickly wild rose

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🌼 Blooms in AK: June–July

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile SOAU.
iNaturalist, Sorbus aucuparia: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Sorbus aucuparia (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Alaska: Alaska prohibited and restricted noxious weeds (11 AAC 34.020).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Sorbus aucuparia (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension.
Photo: Matt Lavin via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.