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Summary
Physical Characteristics
Crataegus monogyna is a deciduous Shrub growing to 6 m (19ft) by 6 m (19ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from May to June, and the seeds ripen from September to November. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Midges.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in heavy clay and nutritionally poor soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid and very alkaline soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist or wet soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.
It can tolerate atmospheric pollution.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Plant Habitats
Woodland Garden Secondary; Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Hedge;
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Flowers Fruit Leaves Shoots
Edible Uses: Coffee Tea
Fruit - raw or cooked[2, 12]. Not very appetizing raw[9, K], it is normally used for making jams and preserves[9, 183]. The fruit can be dried, ground, mixed with flour and used for making bread etc[46]. The fruit is about 1cm in diameter[200]. There are up to five fairly large seeds in the centre of the fruit, these often stick together and so the effect is of eating a cherry-like fruit with a single seed[K]. Young shoots - raw[5, 177]. A pleasant nutty flavour[144], they are a good addition to the salad bowl[183]. A tea is made from the dried leaves[21, 46, 177, 183], it is a china tea substitute. The roasted seeds are a coffee substitute[12, 21, 46, 177]. The flowers are used in syrups and sweet puddings[183].
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antispasmodic Astringent Cardiotonic Diuretic Hypotensive Malaria Sedative Tonic
Vasodilator
Hawthorn is an extremely valuable medicinal herb. It is used mainly for treating disorders of the heart and circulation system, especially angina[254]. Western herbalists consider it a 'food for the heart', it increases the blood flow to the heart muscles and restores normal heart beat[254]. This effect is brought about by the presence of bioflavonoids in the fruit, these bioflavonoids are also strongly antioxidant, helping to prevent or reduce degeneration of the blood vessels[254]. The fruit is antispasmodic, cardiac, diuretic, sedative, tonic and vasodilator[4, 9, 21, 46, 165]. Both the fruits and flowers of hawthorns are well-known in herbal folk medicine as a heart tonic and modern research has borne out this use. The fruits and flowers have a hypotensive effect as well as acting as a direct and mild heart tonic[222]. They are especially indicated in the treatment of weak heart combined with high blood pressure[222], they are also used to treat a heart muscle weakened by age, for inflammation of the heart muscle, arteriosclerosis and for nervous heart problems[21]. Prolonged use is necessary for the treatment to be efficacious[222]. It is normally used either as a tea or a tincture[222]. Hawthorn is combined with ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) to enhance poor memory, working by improving the blood supply to the brain[254]. The bark is astringent and has been used in the treatment of malaria and other fevers[7]. The roots are said to stimulate the arteries of the heart[218].
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
Fuel Hedge Hedge Wood
A good hedge plant, it is very tolerant of being cut and of neglect and is able to regenerate if cut back severely, it makes a good thorny stock-proof barrier[186] and resists very strong winds. It is often used in layered hedges[11, 29]. The cultivar 'Stricta' has made a very good hedge 3.5 metres tall in an exposed maritime position at Rosewarne in N. Cornwall[K]. Wood - very hard and tough, difficult to work. Used for tool handles etc. Valued in turning[7, 46, 61]. A good fuel, giving out a lot of heat[4].
Special Uses
Attracts Wildlife Food Forest Hedge Hedge Scented Plants
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
A very easily grown plant, it prefers a well-drained moisture retentive loamy soil but is not at all fussy[11, 200]. Succeeds in all but the very poorest acid soils[186]. Once established, it succeeds in excessively moist soils and also tolerates drought[200]. It grows well on a chalk soil and also in heavy clay soils[200]. A position in full sun is best when plants are being grown for their fruit, they also succeed in semi-shade though fruit yields and quality will be lower in such a position[11, 200]. Most members of this genus succeed in exposed positions, they also tolerate atmospheric pollution[200]. A very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to at least -18°c[202]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus and with C. laevigata in the wild[186, 200]. There are many named forms selected for their ornamental value[200]. Seedling trees take from 5 - 8 years before they start bearing fruit, though grafted trees will often flower heavily in their third year[K]. The flowers have a foetid smell somewhat like decaying fish. This attracts midges which are the main means of fertilization. When freshly open, the flowers have more pleasant scent with balsamic undertones[245]. Seedlings should not be left in a seedbed for more than 2 years without being transplanted[11]. In heavier shade they quickly become drawn and leggy, eventually dying[186]. An important food plant for the caterpillars of many lepidoptera species[30], there are 149 insect species associated with this tree[24]. Plants are susceptible to fireblight[200]. In garden design, as well as the above-ground architecture of a plant, root structure considerations help in choosing plants that work together for their optimal soil requirements including nutrients and water. The root pattern is branching: a heart root, dividing from the crown into several primary roots going down and out [2-1].
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
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Plant Propagation
Seed - this is best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame, some of the seed will germinate in the spring, though most will probably take another year. Stored seed can be very slow and erratic to germinate, it should be warm stratified for 3 months at 15°c and then cold stratified for another 3 months at 4°c[164]. It may still take another 18 months to germinate[78]. Scarifying the seed before stratifying it might reduce this time[80]. Fermenting the seed for a few days in its own pulp may also speed up the germination process[K]. Another possibility is to harvest the seed 'green' (as soon as the embryo has fully developed but before the seedcoat hardens) and sow it immediately in a cold frame. If timed well, it can germinate in the spring[80]. If you are only growing small quantities of plants, it is best to pot up the seedlings as soon as they are large enough to handle and grow them on in individual pots for their first year, planting them out in late spring into nursery beds or their final positions. When growing larger quantities, it might be best to sow them directly outdoors in a seedbed, but with protection from mice and other seed-eating creatures. Grow them on in the seedbed until large enough to plant out, but undercut the roots if they are to be left undisturbed for more than two years.
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
European hawthorn; May tree; May-tree; oneseed hawthorn; one-seeded hawthorn; single-seed hawthorn; whitethorn.
Spanish: espino albar.
French: aubépine a un style; aubépine monogyne.
Russian: boyaryshnik odnopestnyi.
Portuguese: pirliteiro.
Czechoslovakia (former): hloh jednosemenny.
Germany: Eingriffeliger Weissdorn; Eingriffliger Weissdorn; Saulenweissdorn.
Italy: biancospino; cratego monogino.
Netherlands: eenstijlige Meidoorn.
Poland: glog jednoszyjkowy.
Sweden: trubbhagtorn.
UK: common hawthorn; single-seed hawthorn.
USA: European hawthorn; singleseed hawthorn.
Native Range
TEMPERATE ASIA: Cyprus, Egypt (Sinai), Iran (north), Iraq (north), Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Russian Federation-Ciscaucasia (Ciscaucasia), Georgia EUROPE: Denmark, Finland (south), United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway (south), Sweden (south), Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Ukraine (incl. Krym), Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece (incl. Crete), Croatia, Italy (incl. Sardinia, Sicily), Montenegro, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, France (incl. Corsica), Portugal AFRICA: Algeria (north), Morocco, Tunisia
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.
This plant can be weedy or invasive. An environmental weed, especially on the Pacific coast of North America and parts of Australia and New Zealand. Recently noted as fully naturalized and a potential pest in northern California, USA
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed.
| Related Plants
|
| Latin Name | Common Name | Habit | Height | Hardiness | Growth | Soil | Shade | Moisture | Edible | Medicinal | Other |
| Crataegus acclivis | | Tree | 8.0 |
4-8
| | LMH | SN | MWe | 4 | 2 | |
| Crataegus aestivalis | Eastern Mayhaw, May hawthorn, Mayhaw, Apple Hawthorn | Shrub | 9.0 |
6-11
| M | LMH | SN | MWe | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Crataegus altaica | Altai Mountain Thorn | Tree | 6.0 |
4-8
| | LMH | SN | MWe | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Crataegus anomala | Arnold hawthorn | Shrub | 5.0 |
4-8
| | LMH | SN | MWe | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Crataegus apiifolia | Parsley-Leaved Hawthorn | Shrub | 4.0 |
6-9
| | LMH | SN | MWe | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Crataegus aprica | Sunny Hawthorn | Tree | 6.0 |
5-9
| | LMH | SN | DMWe | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Crataegus armena | | Tree | 0.0 |
-
| | LMH | SN | MWe | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Crataegus arnoldiana | Arnold Hawthorn | Tree | 7.0 |
5-9
| | LMH | SN | DMWe | 5 | 2 | 2 |
| Crataegus atrosanguinea | | Tree | 0.0 |
-
| | LMH | SN | MWe | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Crataegus azarolus | Azarole | Tree | 10.0 |
5-9
| M | LMH | SN | MWe | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Crataegus baroussana | Tejocote | Shrub | 2.0 |
0-0
| | LMH | SN | MWe | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Crataegus caesa | | Shrub | 3.0 |
6-9
| | LMH | SN | MWe | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Crataegus calpodendron | Pear Hawthorn | Tree | 6.0 |
-
| | LMH | SN | MWe | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Crataegus canadensis | Canadian hawthorn | Tree | 9.0 |
0-0
| | LMH | SN | MWe | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Crataegus canbyi | Cockspur hawthorn, Dwarf Hawthorn, Cockspur Hawthorn | Shrub | 5.0 |
4-7
| M | LMH | SN | DMWe | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Crataegus champlainensis | Quebec hawthorn | Tree | 6.0 |
5-9
| | LMH | SN | MWe | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Crataegus chlorosarca | | Tree | 6.0 |
-
| | LMH | SN | MWe | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Crataegus chrysocarpa | Fireberry Hawthorn, Red haw, Piper's hawthorn, | Tree | 6.0 |
4-8
| | LMH | SN | MWe | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Crataegus coccinoides | Kansas Hawthorn | Tree | 6.0 |
4-8
| | LMH | SN | DMWe | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Crataegus columbiana | Columbian Hawthorn | Tree | 5.0 |
4-8
| | LMH | SN | MWe | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Crataegus crus-galli | Cockspur Thorn, Cockspur hawthorn, Dwarf Hawthorn | Shrub | 10.0 |
4-7
| M | LMH | SN | DMWe | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Crataegus cuneata | Sanzashi, Chinese hawthorn | Shrub | 15.0 |
5-9
| | LMH | SN | MWe | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Crataegus dilatata | Broadleaf hawthorn | Tree | 6.0 |
0-0
| | LMH | SN | MWe | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Crataegus dispessa | Mink hawthorn | Tree | 8.0 |
0-0
| | LMH | SN | MWe | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Crataegus douglasii | Black Hawthorn | Tree | 9.0 |
4-8
| | LMH | SN | MWe | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Crataegus durobrivensis | Caughuawaga Hawthorn | Shrub | 5.0 |
4-8
| | LMH | SN | MWe | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Crataegus ellwangeriana | Scarlet Hawthorn | Tree | 6.0 |
5-7
| | LMH | SN | MWe | 5 | 2 | 2 |
| Crataegus elongata | | Shrub | 4.0 |
0-0
| | LMH | SN | MWe | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Crataegus festiva | | Shrub | 3.0 |
6-9
| | LMH | SN | MWe | 5 | 2 | 2 |
| Crataegus flabellata | Fanleaf hawthorn | Shrub | 6.0 |
4-8
| | LMH | SN | MWe | 3 | 2 | 3 |
|
|
Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
Expert comment
Author
Jacq.
Botanical References
1117200
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