Crataegus phaenopyrum
treeHawthorn (Crataegus) is a small, dense, often thorny tree of hedgerows and field edges, 20 to 30 ft tall, smothered in flat clusters of white (sometimes pink) flowers in spring and hung with glossy red berries called haws from fall well into winter. Long woven into folklore and the old field hedge, it is grown today as a tough ornamental whose flowers, leaves, and berries are all gathered for the kitchen. It is exceptionally hardy and adaptable, feeds bees in bloom and birds in winter, and its branched thorns make it a living fence. Many species and a few thornless cultivars exist; all share the same five-petaled rose-family flowers and small pomes.
Sun
full sun
Water
Every 14 days
Harvest
~180 days
Difficulty
easy
Lifecycle
perennial
Comes back every year
Spacing
20-25 ft apart
Planting Depth
Set root flare at soil line
Soil pH
6.0-7.5
Soil Type
Adaptable; moist, well-draining loam
Hardiness Zones
Zones 4 – 8
When to Fertilize
Light feed in early spring if needed
Fertilizer
Balanced or compost; low needs
Hawthorn is undemanding once planted. Set a young tree in full sun for the best flowering and fruiting, in almost any moist, well-drained soil, and give it room - many forms reach 25 ft across. It tolerates clay, drought, wind, and city air, and needs little pruning beyond shaping in late winter. Bare-root trees go in during dormancy in early spring or fall. Mind the long, sharp thorns when siting it near paths. It is slow to start bearing - expect a few years before a real berry crop - but then fruits reliably and long, and the spring flowers come every year.
Direct sow
Apr 29
Projected first harvest
Oct 26
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Keep hawthorns away from junipers/red cedars, the alternate host, and choose resistant species where rust is common
Avoid heavy nitrogen, prune out blackened shoot tips well below the damage, and disinfect tools between cuts
Hose off the undersides of leaves; healthy trees tolerate the stippling damage
Gather the white flowers with their young leaves in spring as they open, snipping whole flower clusters on a dry day and drying them quickly in a shaded, airy place. Pick the red haws in fall once they are fully colored and slightly soft, after the first light frost sweetens them; the firm flesh is used for jellies, syrups, and teas, with the single hard seeds strained out. Mind the thorns when reaching in. Dry berries whole or process fresh.
Hawthorn haws are edible, mealy and mildly sweet-tart, and are cooked into jelly, syrup, fruit leather, and a traditional tea; the young spring leaves and flowers are also gathered for tea and were once nibbled as "bread and cheese." In the garden it earns its keep as a hardy flowering tree, a thorny wildlife hedge, and a reliable source of berries for the kitchen.
For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.