Hawthorn – Crataegus species
Hawthorn, May Blossom or
May Tree is a member of the Rose family and contains over one thousand species
found in England, Europe, Asia and North America. A small tree, it grows 20-30 (
10 m) feet tall and wide. Small white flowers borne in clusters (properly
termed corymbs) are said to smell foul until pollinated by the flies that are
attracted to them. Once the flower is fertilized, the scent becomes a pleasant
one. The tree flowers in May; hence it’s alternate common names. Deep green
lobed leaves in spring and summer turn beautiful shades of scarlet and orange
in autumn. Haws, as the fruit is called, ripen in September and October. The
fruit is similar in appearance to the hips of wild roses.
Haws are a favorite food
of birds and small animals and have been used by humans. The ripe fruit is
gathered and used to make a preserve (with lemons and sugar) or cooked with
other fruits to make jellies, as they are rich in pectin. This plant has been
used to treat arthritis and rheumatism as well as emotional stress, nervous and
heart conditions. Native Americans dried the berries, then ground them into
meal and mixed with wheat or corn flour for baking. They also turned the bark
fibers into cordage and used the thorns as awls.
Another name for this tree
was Fairy Thorn. Named by the ancient Bretons, they believed that the tree was
haunted by fairies. English Hawthorn, Crataegus
monogyna or C. oxycantha, was
planted extensively as a hedgerow plant because of its quick growth and long
thorns. The word “hedge” is in fact derived from the Anglo-Saxon word for
hawthorn – Haegthorn. According to one author, Frank Tozer, ancient
hedgerows are becoming a thing of the past in England. He writes, “In densely
populated Britain, Hawthorn hedges were very important to wildlife, as a source
of both food and habitat. Indeed much of the wildlife in that country has
disappeared in the past forty years, as hedgerows have been torn out to enlarge
farm fields for mechanized farming. Another negative effect of their removal
has been vastly increased soil erosion.” Hawthorns spread by suckers which can
be a nuisance if planted in a small area, but does help to keep soil in place.
There are several hawthorn
species native to the United States. These are usually found growing along the
edges of forests or meadows. Presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson
planted Crataegus phaenopyrum on
their estates.
In the Language of
Flowers, Hawthorn symbolizes hope, marriage and fertility. A plant rich in English
folklore, the ship which carried English pilgrims to the New World was named The Mayflower, after this plant. A
pretty comprehensive survey can be found here:
