When the last leaves fall, rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) reveals itself in a different guise. Also known as mountain ash, this slender tree is a familiar sight in British hedgerows, woodlands and uplands. In winter, without its feathery pinnate leaves, you must rely on buds, bark and any lingering berries. The clues are subtle but reliable, and once you learn them, you will spot rowan on even the dullest January walk.

Buds and Twigs: The Purple Promise

The most distinctive winter feature of rowan is its buds. They are a deep, dusky purple, often described as plum-coloured, and they sit alternately along the twig. Each bud is pointed and slightly conical, around 5–10mm long, with overlapping scales that have fine grey hairs along their edges. Hold one close and you may notice a faint bloom, like the skin of a grape. The twigs themselves are slender, grey-brown and smooth, with small, pale leaf scars shaped like horseshoes or crescents. Unlike ash, whose buds are jet black and velvety, or horse chestnut, whose buds are large and sticky, rowan buds are neat and purple. If you scratch a twig gently, there is no strong smell, which helps separate it from the pungent buds of wild cherry or the aromatic twigs of birch.

• Colour: deep purple to plum, never green or black.
• Shape: pointed, ovoid, with overlapping scales.
• Arrangement: alternate, not opposite.
• Twigs: grey-brown, slender, with small leaf scars.

Bark and Form: Grey, Smooth and Often Multi-Stemmed

Rowan bark is another reliable clue. On young trees and branches, it is smooth and grey, sometimes with a silvery sheen. Look closely and you will see horizontal lenticels, small raised lines that allow the tree to breathe. As rowan ages, the bark becomes darker and develops shallow fissures, but it rarely becomes deeply rugged like oak or ash. The tree itself is often multi-stemmed, especially in upland areas where it grows as a shrubby specimen. In winter, the overall silhouette is rounded and open, with a network of fine branches. Rowan is a pioneer species, so you will find it on moorland edges, in hedgerows, and along woodland rides. It tolerates poor, acidic soils and is common in the Scottish Highlands, the Pennines and Wales.

Berries and Folklore: The Last Clusters

If you are lucky, the berries will still be hanging in dense clusters when winter arrives. They are bright orange-red, each about the size of a pea, and they persist well into the season. Look for the tiny five-pointed star, or calyx, at the base of each berry – a sure sign you have rowan and not a toxic lookalike such as yew. Birds love them, so clusters may be stripped by thrushes, redwings and waxwings by midwinter. Folklore surrounding rowan is rich and protective. In many parts of Britain, a rowan tree was planted near the door to ward off witches and evil spirits. A cross made of rowan twigs, tied with red thread, was carried as a charm. On May Day, branches were hung over byres and houses. The tree was considered so potent that cutting one down without permission was thought to bring bad luck. In Scotland, the rowan tree appears in song and story as a guardian of the home.

Foraging Rowan Berries in Winter

Rowan berries are edible, but they are bitter and astringent when raw. They also contain parasorbic acid, which can cause stomach upset if eaten in quantity. Cooking destroys this compound, so rowan is best used in preserves. Traditionally, the berries were gathered after the first frost, which softens their flavour, but in milder winters you can pick them and freeze them at home for a few days. Always leave plenty for the birds, and avoid picking from busy roadsides or sprayed hedges. The classic use is rowan jelly, a superb accompaniment to venison, game and cheese. To make it, simmer equal weights of rowan berries and chopped apples (for pectin) with a little water until soft. Strain through a jelly bag overnight, then add 450g of sugar per 600ml of juice and boil until set. Rowan berries also make wine, liqueur, vinegar and a tangy ketchup. Their high vitamin C content made them a valuable winter tonic in the past.

Traditional Crafts: Rowan Wood and Charms

Rowan wood is hard, fine-grained and pale, taking a beautiful polish. It was traditionally used for tool handles, walking sticks, spinning wheels, snuff boxes and carved spoons. In the Highlands, a rowan stick was used to stir porridge to prevent it from being stolen by fairies, and rowan wood was fashioned into protective charms, crosses and dowsing rods. The wood is lovely to work with green or seasoned, though it can be prone to splitting if dried too quickly. If you are pruning or coppicing rowan, save straight branches for walking sticks. Strip the bark while fresh, then dry the stick slowly in a cool, airy place to avoid cracks. You can also carve small items such as butter knives, buttons or amulets. The berries, too, have craft uses: their juice makes a natural dye, yielding shades of pink, red and purple depending on the mordant. Whether you are identifying a tree, gathering a harvest or shaping a handle, rowan rewards close attention in every season.