Rowan Toxic?

Updated 2026-03-06| 5 min read| 1,278 found this helpful

The plant has low overall toxicity, with adverse effects only occurring after ingestion of very large quantities of raw plant material

Key toxic compounds include cyanogenic glycoside amygdalin (concentrated in seeds) and parasorbic acid (found in raw fruit)

All documented symptoms are limited to mild gastrointestinal distress, with no confirmed severe or fatal poisoning cases reported

FAQ

Is Rowan toxic to Humans?

Mild gastrointestinal distress including salivation, nausea, vomiting, abdominal colic and diarrhea, only occurring after ingestion of very large quantities of raw plant material (Low)

Is Rowan toxic to Cats?

No species-specific toxicity data available; expected to cause mild gastrointestinal symptoms similar to humans if large amounts are ingested (Low)

Is Rowan toxic to Dogs?

No species-specific toxicity data available; expected to cause mild gastrointestinal symptoms similar to humans if large amounts are ingested (Low)

Is Rowan toxic to Horses?

No species-specific toxicity data available; expected to cause mild gastrointestinal symptoms similar to humans if large amounts are ingested (Low)

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Toxicity Details

Humans

Low

Mild gastrointestinal distress including salivation, nausea, vomiting, abdominal colic and diarrhea, only occurring after ingestion of very large quantities of raw plant material

Cats

Low

No species-specific toxicity data available; expected to cause mild gastrointestinal symptoms similar to humans if large amounts are ingested

Dogs

Low

No species-specific toxicity data available; expected to cause mild gastrointestinal symptoms similar to humans if large amounts are ingested

Horses

Low

No species-specific toxicity data available; expected to cause mild gastrointestinal symptoms similar to humans if large amounts are ingested

Toxicity Snapshot

Toxic PartsWhole plant, with highest toxin concentration in seeds, unripe raw fruits and leaves

Exposure RouteOral ingestion of raw plant parts, especially unripe berries, seeds and foliage

Toxic CompoundsAmygdalin (cyanogenic glycoside); Parasorbic acid; Tannins; D-sorbitol; (-)-Malic acid

First Aid & Prevention

First 30 Minutes

• Rinse mouth thoroughly to remove remaining plant material
• Induce vomiting only if ingestion occurred within the last 2 hours and the patient is fully conscious
• Give small sips of clean water to dilute ingested toxins if no active vomiting is present

Contact Vet Immediately

• If patient experiences persistent vomiting, diarrhea or abdominal pain for more than 2 hours
• If a large quantity of seeds or unripe fruit was ingested, especially by children or small pets
• If patient exhibits unusual weakness, dizziness or difficulty breathing (rare, only possible with extremely large ingestion)

Prevention

• Keep unripe rowan berries and plant clippings out of reach of small children and domestic pets
• Do not consume raw, unprocessed rowan berries in large quantities
• Avoid feeding any part of the plant to livestock or companion animals

Treatment & Prognosis

• Perform decontamination via induced vomiting or activated charcoal administration as clinically appropriate
• Provide symptomatic care including anti-emetics and electrolyte replacement for gastrointestinal distress
• Monitor for signs of cyanide toxicity only in cases of extremely large seed ingestion (very rare)

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Professional Toxicology

Scientific NameSorbus aucuparia L.; Synonym: Pyrus aucuparia (L.) Gaertn.

AliasesMountain-ash、Eberesche (German)、Sorbier des oiseaux (French)、Sorbo degli ucellatori (Italian)

Toxicity Grade

HumansLow

CatsLow

DogsLow

HorsesLow

Target Organs

Gastrointestinal tractCentral nervous system (only with extremely large seed ingestion, very rare)

Mechanism of Action

• Amygdalin breaks down to release small amounts of hydrogen cyanide when ingested in large quantities

• Parasorbic acid irritates the gastrointestinal mucosa, triggering digestive distress

• High concentrations of tannins and organic acids contribute to mild gastrointestinal irritation

Other Species Risk (CliniTox)

Information from CliniTox veterinary text.

Livestock (cattle, sheep, goats): Presumed low toxicity; mild gastrointestinal distress may occur if large quantities of raw plant material are consumed

Small companion mammals (rabbits, guinea pigs): Higher sensitivity to cyanide compounds; ingestion of large amounts of seeds may lead to weakness or respiratory distress

Confusion Risk

The following plants look similar and may be confused:

Common Ash Fraxinus excelsior

Visually similar compound leaf structure; ash has opposite leaf arrangement while rowan has alternate leaves, and ash does not produce bright red berry clusters

Common Walnut Juglans regia

Similar pinnate leaf shape; walnut produces large green-husked nuts instead of red berries, and has darker, rougher bark than rowan

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Related Toxic Plants

Wild Cherry

Prunus avium

High: seeds, bark and leaves contain high concentrations of cyanogenic glycosides

Blackthorn

Prunus spinosa

Moderate: unripe fruit and seeds contain toxic cyanogenic glycosides

Domestic Apple

Malus domestica

Low: seeds contain small amounts of amygdalin, toxic only in very large quantities

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Data Sources

1. CliniTox (Universität Zürich)

This information is for reference only and does not constitute medical advice. If ingestion or poisoning is suspected, seek medical or veterinary attention immediately.