Rowan

I have a rowan tree - sheerwater seedling. It has made good growth in the last two seasons, but refuses to flower or fruit.
It is in very rich soil. A farmers field backs on to the garden which is probably manured. In the same area my dahlias are great. Do you think that the problem could be the soil being too rich?
If not, does anyone know of any other problems.
Any advice would be appreciated.
GF.

 

Hi garden fiend,

How old is the tree? Has it flowered or produced fruit before?

 

It was bought at the beginning of last year. It's not produced any fruit or flowers yet, although it has put on loads of growth. GF.

 

Then you need to wait a good few years yet before it starts producing fruits and flowers. You'll probably find that it needs to get fully established before putting energy into fruit & flowers.

 

Rowan trees were obviously popular for landscaping when the estate I live in was built about 25 years ago. Most of them have got quite big by now but the one with most berries is a scruffy, weedy-looking little specimen that looks to be on its last legs!

Maybe rowans are prompted to produce more berries if they have to struggle a bit as mature trees? A sort of survival response? Just a thought...

 

You will certainly have to wait another 2-3 years. Rowans also flower better if the soil is relatively poor - they not called Mountain Ash for nothing.... so don't feed it.

H

 

Thanks for the replies. They're very much appreciated. GF.