Sorbus aucuparia grows up to 15 meters tall and lives for up to 200 years. Rowans, also known as service-trees, are shrubs or trees that are native throughout the Northern Hemisphere, with many endemic variants in the UK. Once grown in gardens for protection againstmythical spirits, rowan is now used for making jams and furniture. It is still considered a taboo to cut down rowan trees inScotland. Rowan is a popular garden tree, attracting birds due to its bright coloured berries. This ornamental tree hassilver-brown bark, leaves that turn bright red in autumn and bright white flowers in the spring.