Species library · Plants & herbs

Foraging American Rowan

Sorbus americana

Typically in season from July to November, peaking around July to October in the northern hemisphere. Found in Woodland. Has toxic lookalikes, so check carefully.

American Rowan (Sorbus americana)

Photo: (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · iNaturalist

When American Rowan is in season

Typical window in the northern hemisphere, peak July to October. The southern hemisphere runs about six months offset, and your own timing depends on local weather, so check your town.

→ Everything in season to forage in September

Where it grows

American Rowan is usually found in Woodland.

⚠ Look-alikes & safety

Toxic look-alikes: Red elderberry, European rowan, Showy mountain-ash. Only forage with a confident ID.

Take American Rowan into the field

Open American Rowan in the Forage app for its full field guide entry with more photos, key features and toxic lookalikes to check against. Add it to your watchlist and the app pings you the moment it comes into season at your exact spot, worked out from live weather, elevation and billions of occurrence records.

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American Rowan: common questions

When is American Rowan in season?

American Rowan is generally in season from July to November, with its peak around July to October in temperate northern regions. The exact timing shifts with latitude, elevation and each year's weather. Check the Season Finder for your own location.

Where does American Rowan grow?

American Rowan is usually found in Woodland.

Is American Rowan safe to forage?

Toxic look-alikes: Red elderberry, European rowan, Showy mountain-ash. Only forage with a confident ID. Never eat any wild plant, berry, nut or mushroom unless you are completely certain of the identification. Check every find against a reliable field guide, and when in doubt, don't.

One note before you head out

Forage helps you discover and identify wild plants, but identification is never 100% certain. Many edible plants have toxic lookalikes. Never eat anything you find based only on what this app tells you. Always confirm with a field guide, an experienced forager or a local expert. The season score tells you where to look, too: it’s not a guarantee. Mind conservation law and property rights as well.

Species photos via Wikimedia Commons and iNaturalist · full credits