A Whispering Tree is one of the many English folk names for the Rowan Tree, or Mountain Ash.

Rowan is most commonly associated with the species Sorbus Aucuparia (European Rowan), but also includes Sorbus Americana (American Mountain Ash), as well as many other species native to cool temperate climates of the Northern Hemisphere, including the Himalayas.

Even though there may be a superficial similarity between the leaves of many Ash and Rowan, the genus and subgenus, Sorbus, are small, hardy deciduous trees belonging to the Rose family (Rosaceae) and the Apple (Maloideae) subfamily. Rowans have pinnately compound leaves, corymbs of white flowers, and orange-red berries. Typically, they flower from May to June, and their fruit usually appears in September, ripening in October.

Rowan trees are quick growing, oftentimes the first in a forest. As birds having eaten the rowan’s fruit may leave their droppings in the forks of other trees, Rowans may even grow on or alongside other trees. Rowans are resilient, tolerant, and frost hardy trees that rejuvenate well when cut. They prefer wind and light over shade, but the shade doesn’t bother them too much. Rowans can grow at high elevations, on cliff sides or steep grades, but they don’t like hard or dense soil.

The word Rowan comes from the Old Norse “reynir” and the root of red.

Other English folk names for the Rowan Tree include: 

• Quickbane
• Quickbeam
• Quicken Tree
• Rune Tree
• Sorb Apple
• Thor's Helper
• Wicken Tree
• Witch Wood
• Witchbane

As professor, philologist and amateur gardener, J.R.R. Tolkien knowingly and aptly named one of his character’s Quickbeam in The Lord of the Rings. Quickbeam is a young Enting of the forest of Fangorn, who contrasts with the other Ents of alder, birch, pine, and oak. He is hardy and impulsive - or positively hasty according to Treebeard - and an amuser and protector while he keeps watch over the Hobbits, Merry and Pippin. While the rest of the Ents deliberate in Entmoot what should be done about Saruman, Quickbeam has already made up his mind. Of course, Quickbeam is a Rowan Tree.

Other Material

Online Etymology Dictionary www.etymonline.com