Hawthorn

Profile

Family

Rosaceae

Habit

Tree

Height

7 m

Spread

5 m

Growth

medium

Lifespan

300 years

First yield

after 7 years

Hardiness

zone 5–8

Shade tolerance

partial shade

Soil

Sand, Silt, Loam, Clay

Soil moisture

dry – near water

pH

6 – 8

Synonyms

Weißdorn

Flowering & harvest

Times apply to the northern hemisphere in a temperate climate and shift with altitude and cultivar.

Uses

Edible: Fruit can be consumed raw or cooked, although it is more commonly used in making jams and preserves due to its unappetizing raw taste. The fruit, typically 1 cm in diameter, contains up to five relatively large seeds at its center, often sticking together, resembling a cherry-like fruit with a single seed. Young shoots offer a pleasant nutty flavor when eaten raw, making them a great addition to salads. Dried leaves can be brewed into a tea, serving as an alternative to Chinese tea. Roasted seeds are sometimes used as a coffee substitute, while the flowers are incorporated into syrups and sweet puddings.

Medicinal: No specific reference has been identified for this species; however, the fruits and flowers of various hawthorn species are recognized in herbal medicine for their heart tonic properties. Recent studies have validated this traditional application, showing that hawthorn fruits and flowers can lower blood pressure and serve as a gentle cardiac tonic. They are especially beneficial for managing heart failure with hypertension. Consistent use over an extended period is necessary for optimal results, typically consumed as a tea or tincture.

Other uses: Holly is a resilient hedge plant that can withstand pruning and neglect. It can recover well from heavy pruning, creating a barrier that is resistant to thorns. The 'Stricta' type, for instance, has successfully grown into a 3.5-meter-tall hedge in a windy coastal area in northern Cornwall. Holly wood is known for its hardness and durability, which makes it challenging to manipulate. It is prized for tool handles and turning, and it also serves as a high-heat fuel source.

Growing

A plant that is easy to cultivate and thrives in various soil types, including loamy, acidic, calcareous, and clay soils. It prefers well-drained soil but can adapt to excessively moist conditions and drought. Full sun is ideal for fruit production, although partial shade is also suitable, albeit with lower yields. Most species in this genus can withstand air pollution and prefer exposed locations. This plant is highly resilient, enduring temperatures as low as -18°C. It readily hybridizes with other species within its genus and with C. laevigata in the wild. Numerous ornamental varieties have been named for their aesthetic appeal. It takes 5-8 years for seedlings to bear fruit, while grafted trees may flower heavily by the third year. The flowers emit an unpleasant odor resembling rotting fish to attract midges, their primary pollinators. When newly opened, the flowers have a more pleasant scent with balsamic notes. Seedlings should not exceed 2 years in a seedbed without transplantation, as they tend to become weak and eventually perish in dense shade. This plant serves as a vital food source for butterfly caterpillars, attracting 149 insect species. However, it is prone to fire blight.

Propagation

Seeds should be sown right after they ripen in autumn, preferably in a cold storage. While some seeds may sprout in the following spring, most will likely require an additional year. Stored seeds might have slow and irregular germination, necessitating warm stratification at 15°C for 3 months followed by cold stratification at 4°C for another 3 months. Even with these steps, it could take up to 18 months for germination. To expedite the process, scoring the seeds before stratification or fermenting them in their pulp for a few days can be beneficial. An alternative approach is to harvest the seeds when they are "green," just after the embryo forms but before the seed coat hardens, and immediately sow them in a cold storage. With proper timing, they may sprout in the spring. For small plant quantities, it's advisable to transplant seedlings into individual pots promptly, keeping them there for the first year before moving them to nursery beds or permanent spots in late spring. When dealing with larger quantities, direct outdoor sowing in a protected seedbed is preferable, ensuring safeguards against seed-eating animals. Allow the plants to grow in the seedbed until they are sufficiently developed for transplantation, trimming the roots if they will remain undisturbed for over two years.

Notable

Special features: has always been planted to border fields and gardens; considered the home of fairies, a symbol of virginity and protection; grows strongly when browsed/pruned, becoming an impenetrable hedge; hawthorn is combined with ginkgo (tea) to improve memory by increasing blood supply to the brain.

Origin & habitat

Europe is absent in Iceland, southern and western Mediterranean, and Afghanistan.

In arid regions, dense vegetation typically thrives on shaded inclines.

Related plants