Sorbus aucuparia 'Chinese Lace' | Rowan Tree
Red berried rowan with unique lace-like pinnate leaves
This tree with delicate lace-like leaf fronds is a beautiful addition to your garden, adding intricacy and elegance to your view. In autumn, the leaves change to red-purple, whilst the dark red berries hang in long clusters.
Variety Information
- Habit: Busy
- Flower Colour: White
- Foliage Colour: Dark Green, Red-Maroon in autumn
- Berry Colour: Red
- Features: Pinnate Leaves, Attractive Berries, Autumn Colour, Winter Interest
- Supplied As: 9L Pot
- Height on Arrival: 120-150cm (4-5 ft)
- Age: 2 Years with 4 Year Rootstock
- Eventual Height & Spread: 12m x 8m (40 x 26ft)
We have developed an eco friendly polypot that is currently in use across our 9 litre range. This polypot has less than 20% of the plastic used by a regular pot, and is importantly recyclable. Polypots also prevent root spiraling, encouraging a healthier root system.
All trees arrive in an extra thick cardboard box with a clamp to hold their pot in place. This prevents them from moving around on their journey.
Nursery staff will wrap the roots of our bare root trees and use compost to keep them moist during transportation. This extra protection prevents them from drying out, allowing for a flying start. We also use the same specialised box that our potted trees have to keep them nice and secure as they make their way to your home.
Please note: where your plant is supplied with a pot, your plant's 'Height on Arrival' includes the pot

- Watering: Bare root trees should have their roots soaked in water for up to 2 hours before planting, while with containerised trees, it is important to drench their root ball before planting.
- Pruning: Another difference is that for bare root trees, it is useful to prune their woody roots back a few inches. However, for containerised trees, you should free any spiralized roots growing around their rootball's circumference.
- Planting: With bare root trees, you should dig a hole to enable the graft point to be above the soil, while with containerised trees, the pot should sit no lower than an inch below the ground.
- With both, you should dig a hole that is twice the radius of their rootball. Stake your trees no more than 2 - 3 inches from the stem, and make sure that they are pointing away from the prevailing wind.
- Fill the planting hole with a mix of compost and garden soil, finishing with fertiliser and mycorrhizal fungi. Take care to not compress the soil.
- Once you are happy with your efforts, give your tree a generous watering.
- Add mulch on top (this can be bark and wood chippings, compost, manure, leaf-mould, and stones), and ensure that these do not touch the stem of the tree.
- Tie the stake to your tree (and leave space for growth), and place a rabbit guard around your tree to protect it from harmful pests.
- Apply fertiliser and replace decomposed mulch come spring. In autumn, remove fallen leaves to prevent the risk of disease. You should also make sure that the ties are not rubbing your tree.
Advice on hot and droopy plants
If your plants are looking a little wilted right now, don’t worry! Plants like to be filled with water to keep their structure, and when it’s hot that water evaporates.
Just give them an off-schedule watering and they’ll be right as rain in no time! Be careful not to flood them - plants don’t like extremes.
- Hardiness: Rowan trees can be found throughout the temperate regions of the world and many species are native to the UK, so their winters are unlikely to cause damage.
- Position: Rowan trees benefit from being planted in full sun. Planting them in a sheltered spot will also help them put more resources into their flowering.
- Soil: Soil types can be an unwelcome confusion as many plants will adapt to their conditions. Nonetheless, less than ideal conditions will certainly limit your Rowan tree’s growth. Waterlogged soils will starve it of oxygen, which plays a key role in photosynthesis; causing the roots to rot and creating an optimal environment for disease. Similarly, compressed soils can starve them of oxygen and water, so you should avoid compressing the soil when planting.
Is Collection/Mix? | No |
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Needs Ericaceous Compost? | No |