Hawthorn (Crataegus
Crataegus
Crataegus, commonly called hawthorn, quickthorn, thornapple, May-tree, whitethorn, or hawberry, is a genus of several hundred species of shrubs and trees in the family Rosaceae, native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere in Europe, Asia and North America. The name "hawthorn" w…
How can you tell the difference between blackthorn and Hawthorn?
Blackthorn usually flowers first, from around March to June. Hawthorn flowers from around April to June. Hawthorn petals are rounded and fuller than those of blackthorn. Blackthorn and hawthorn flowers both have five petals. Note that hawthorn already has its leaves too (scroll for blackthorn).
How did Blackthorn get its name?
Blackthorn is named after its dark bark (scroll for hawthorn). The bark of hawthorn is greyer in colour. Blackthorn is named after its dark bark (scroll for hawthorn).
What kind of soil does a blackthorn like?
A fantastic attribute of the blackthorn is its soil adaptability. While it thrives in neutral soil, it will tolerate acidic and alkaline soils as well. The blackthorn does best in moist, well-drained sandy soils and will also tolerate the high levels of soil salinity common in roadsides and marine environments.
What is a blackthorn blossom?
You may already have noticed the blackthorn blossom, the first of the three to flower: delicate plum-flowers on bare branches, punctuated by dark, cruel spikes. The widely known saying ‘blackthorn winter’ refers to this tree’s habit of flowering just before a particularly cold snap in the weather.
What are the differences between Blackthorn and Hawthorn?
When do hawthorn and blackthorn bloom?
What are the berries that make up Blackthorn?
How many petals does a blackthorn have?
Why is the Blackthorn tree called Blackthorn?
Can hawthorn trees be planted near each other?
Can you eat hawthorn berries raw?
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About this website
Are Sloes from Hawthorn?
Fruits. The fruits of these two spiny species can be seen around the same time, but there's no mistaking which is which. Blackthorn hosts one of our better known berries: sloes. These sour blue-black fruits measure about 1cm across and grow from around September to December.
Are Hawthorn and Whitethorn the same?
Hawthorn, also known as the whitethorn and the May tree, is one of our most common native trees, and one that is steeped in legend and folklore.
What does Blackthorn symbolize?
Blackthorn in mythology and folklore Blackthorn has a sinister reputation and to many it often represents the dark side of witchcraft and magick. It is a sacred tree to the Crone aspect of the Triple Goddess, and is associated with the Waning and Dark Moon. Blackthorn is also known as keeper of dark secrets.
What is the flower of the blackthorn called?
Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), when without leaves. The flowers of blackthorn appear before the leaves, and the spines have buds along their length, while on the hawthorn flowers emerge from the same point as the buds.
What's the difference between blackthorn and Whitethorn?
But I digress. Blackthorn the bush is often confused with whitethorn, which is actually hawthorn, which is why botanical names are so important to avoid confusion. Prunus spinosa or blackthorn is the first into flower on bare branches, its creamy white buds like clusters of seed pearls, any time from March onwards.
Do all hawthorn trees have thorns?
The hawthorn changes quickly with the help of hybridization, so there are many varieties, both wild and cultivated. Nearly all of the trees have thorns and flowers, but there is a small handful of varieties that do not possess thorns.
What does a hawthorn tree symbolize?
In Celtic mythology it is one of the most sacred trees and symbolises love and protection. It is also known as the Fairy Tree, as fairies live under the Hawthorn as its guardians, and so was treated with great respect and care.
What trees were sacred to the Druids?
The Druids frequently worshipped and practised their rites in oak groves. The word Druid may derive from a Celtic word meaning “knower of the oak tree”.
Is blackthorn a fairy tree?
In Irish folklore, the Blackthorn is considered a special tree and is often referred to as the fairy tree.
What is hawthorn blossom called?
May BlossomCommon Hawthorn, also known as May Blossom, Crataegus monogyna, May tree, Quickthorn. The native species Hawthorn in the British Isles, Ireland and Northern Europe. Flowering in the middle of May, its folk name of May blossom derives from the older calendar when 1st May, or May Day, coincided with its flowering.
Can you eat hawthorn berries?
Culinary uses and recipes with Hawthorn The berries, known as Haws, are much like mild apples but the flesh is quite dense and dry. These make good jelly to eat with cheese and a great ketchup substitute. Haws have also been used in the production of country wines and homemade schnapps.
Can you eat blackthorn berries?
It is too astringent and bitter to eat raw. Cooked, the fruit is used to make jams, jellies, syrups, ketchups and chutneys. The flowers are also edible in moderation and have a mild almond flavour Hazards The leaves and seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides and hydrogen cyanide.
What does Whitethorn mean?
hawthornDefinition of whitethorn 1a : a hawthorn (Crataegus oxycantha) b : scarlet haw. 2 : any of several acacias that have peeling bark which gives the trunk a whitish appearance.
Are hawthorn berries poisonous to humans?
The first thing you need to know about the Hawthorn berries is you should not eat the seeds. They contain cyanide bonded with sugar, called amygdalin. In your gut — actually small intestine — that changes to hydrogen cyanide and can be deadly. You can cook the berries then discard the seeds, but don't eat the seeds.
What is Hawthorn good for?
Hawthorn is used to help protect against heart disease and help control high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Both animal and human studies suggest hawthorn increases coronary artery blood flow, improves circulation, and lowers blood pressure. It has also been used on the skin to treat boils and skin sores.
How do you identify a hawthorn tree?
Identification (see below for more photos)Thorny, deciduous small tree or shrub, 6 to 30 feet tall.Leaves 3 to 7-lobed, 1-2 inches long and nearly as broad, resemble mittens or paws.Flowers grouped in broad, dense, flat-topped clusters and resemble cherry or apple blossoms.Petals are usually white, sometimes pink.More items...•
hawthorn, whitethorn & blackthorn — boards.ie - Now Ye're Talkin'
No it's the other way round!! They are both types of rose family... Blackthorn is finished flowering now & the Whitethorn is just starting to flower- hence the name Mayflower (where I am anyway) though it puts it's leaves out earlier, around the same time as the Blackthorn flowers!
What is the difference between hawthorn and blackthorn?
Blackthorn bark is dark with spiky thorns. Its twigs are black with leaf buds along the sharp spines while the hawthorn bark is creamy brown and rough. The twigs are brown and slim with thorns which emerge from the buds. With thorns a common theme, it’s best not to use touch in your examination of either. Hawthorn berries in a hedge.
What are the fruits of a blackthorn?
The small blue-black fruits of the native blackthorn are known as sloes. Hawthorn branches bloom with their bright red haw berries.
Why are hawthorns important to bees?
Beyond the superstition and tradition, hawthorn and blackthorn play an important part in our natural landscapes. Planted to make fields stock-proof, they help capture carbon from the atmosphere and are a welcome source of nectar and pollen for honeybees, particularly our native bumblebees and solitary bees. Both Hawthorn and blackthorn bloom with clusters of delicate flowers. As our native bees come out of hibernation, they are hungry and turn to such sources to fuel up before finding a nest and laying their young. After pollination by insects, the flowers develop into fruits. Although bitter to our taste, the birds happily feast on them in the autumn.
When do blackthorn trees bloom?
With blackthorn, it is flowers before leaves, but with the hawthorn, it is leaves before flowers. The blackthorn flowers first around April and the Hawthorn blossoms later, around May. This is why it is also known as the May tree.
Is Hawthorn a bad luck tree?
As a home for the fairies and a brew for gin, hawthorn and blackthorn have been shrouded in fame and folklore for centuries. Hawthorn is most deeply rooted in folklore. It was considered bad luck to cut a Hawthorn tree down. Still today, it is not unusual to see a tree ...
When do hawthorns bloom?
Hawthorn leaves start to appear in March, followed by the fragrant white flowers that come out from April to June, particularly in May. Another name for hawthorn is May-blossom. The red fruits (haws) can be seen from June onwards.
Can you see hawthorns in the countryside?
Both hawthorn and blackthorn can be seen across the countryside and even in our towns and cities, but how do you tell them apart? Our expert guide explains the differences and best places to see.
Can you separate hawthorn from blackthorn?
Separating hawthorn from blackthorn in winter can be tricky, especially if you are presented with plants in a newly cut hedge.
Is blackthorn edible?
The fruits have a sharp, astringent taste when fresh but once frosted, they can be used to make sloe gin.
What is the first flower on a blackthorn tree?
You may already have noticed the blackthorn blossom, the first of the three to flower: delicate plum-flowers on bare branches, punctuated by dark, cruel spikes. The widely known saying ‘blackthorn winter’ refers to this tree’s habit of flowering just before a particularly cold snap in the weather.
What does the blackthorn represent?
Perversely for such a herald of spring, the blackthorn is associated with Samhain (late October) in the Irish calendar, and it represents the dark side of the year and the hag, as the hawthorn represents the light and the maiden. One folk tale from Oxfordshire, collected by the folklorist Ruth Tongue, talks of fairy justice against ...
What is the name of the tree that stands in the Highlands?
Red-berried rowan (mountain ash) stands gaunt in the Highlands alongside mountain streams, but it has also been an imaginative choice for street trees throughout the country, no doubt appreciated by the local bird populations. Blackthorn and hawthorn hedges were widely planted as an effective political device during the enclosures ...
What are the names of the trees that grow in the British countryside?
As you climb, you will find ancient individual hawthorn trees, weatherbeaten and crooked, defiant on the exposed high ground. Blackthorn, hawthorn and rowan: these three trees hold a special place in British hearts and imaginations. They crop up in unusual places, in towns and cities as well as the countryside.
Where did John DeLorean find the Hawthorn tree?
They say that John DeLorean found a lone hawthorn tree in the field where he wanted to set up his car plant in Dunmurry, Northern Ireland. His builders refused to destroy it and so DeLorean himself bulldozed the tree, apparently bringing bad luck to his enterprise. Midsummer Eve by Edward Robert Hughes (1908) Source.
What is the name of the tree that has a white blossom?
Midsummer Eve by Edward Robert Hughes (1908) Source. Our third white blossom tree, the rowan, is a tree of light and fire like the hawthorn, but more upland in character. It has fine, complex leaves (hence its other name, mountain ash) and clusters of heady flowers in May. Rowan is the Quicken Tree, Delight of the Eye, The Wizard Tree, ...
What is the Quicken Tree?
Rowan is the Quicken Tree, Delight of the Eye, The Wizard Tree, a protection from enchantment, dark magic, and illness. It was planted near houses to protect the inhabitants, and kept in the byre to protect cattle and milk alike.
When do blackthorns bloom?
White flowers appear on short stalks before the leaves in March and April, either singularly or in pairs.
What is the blackthorn tree known for?
They’re best known for their rich, inky, dark fruits used to make a favourite wintry tipple – sloe gin. close. This tree provides pollen for bees and butterflies. Credit: Nick Spurling / WTML.
What is the food for blackthorn?
Early flowering, blackthorn provides a valuable source of nectar and pollen for bees in spring. Its foliage is a food plant for the caterpillars of many moths, including the lackey, magpie, swallow-tailed and yellow-tailed. It is also used by the black and brown hairstreak butterflies. Birds nest among the dense, thorny thickets, eat caterpillars and other insects from the leaves, and feast on the sloes in autumn.
What is the name of the plant that has no leaves?
Hawthorn ( Crataegus monogyna), when without leaves. The flowers of blackthorn appear before the leaves, and the spines have buds along their length, while on the hawthorn flowers emerge from the same point as the buds.
Is a hairstreak a food plant?
It is a foodplant for many caterpillars, including the brown hairstreak.
Is blackthorn a good firewood?
It burns well so is a good choice for firewood. Traditionally, blackthorn was used in a wealth of remedies including tonics and syrups that ‘cleansed the blood’, aided digestive complaints and eased rheumatism. These tonics and syrups made use of the blackthorn’s bark, flowers and fruit.
What is a blackthorn tree?
Blackthorn, also called sloe bush, is part of the large Prunus family, like the apricot tree, plum tree, almond tree, peach tree and cherry tree. It actually can be used as a graft-holder for apricot trees, plum trees and peach trees. Birds love building nests in the tree.
How do I care for a blackthorn shrub?
Caring for blackthorn is very easy because it is a shrub that requires quasi no care once it has settled in correctly. Regularly water over the 1 st year after planting. Fertilize poor soil with shrub fertilizer during the 2 or 3 first years.
What fruit tree bursts after the first frost?
Blackthorn, delicious wild berries. This fruit tree produces surprising fruits, sloes, that are always best when they’ve burst just after the first frost spells.
Can you snip a blackthorn?
During the beautiful spring blooming, you can snip a couple branches off from your blackthorn and arrange them in a large vase, the decorative impact will impress all!
Can you harvest sloes from blackthorn?
Harvesting sloes. It is very easy to harvest sloes from the blackthorn but, be careful, these fruits only really have any value if harvested at exactly the right time. Sloe is astringent and bitter and doesn’t have much culinary value if harvested too early. Wait for a couple fall frost spells to occur before collecting the sloes.
What is the name of the blackthorn?
Botanical Name. Prunus spinosa. Common Name.
Why do blackthorns need to be pruned?
That said, the only reason a blackthorn really needs pruning is if it becomes rowdy, starts invading unwanted areas, or is being trained as a hedge. Otherwise, you can let it go.
How long do black thorns grow?
The blackthorn gets its name somewhere: The thorns can grow four inches long. Before pruning make sure to wear the proper safety equipment. Blackthorn thorns are dangerous and can cause serious puncture wounds.
What happened to thorns before antibiotics?
Before the invention of antibiotics, the thorns would break under the skin of people who had bad encounters with the shrub and lead to often life-threatening infections. Thanks to modern medicine, that outcome happens less frequently.
What climate zone do black horns live in?
Blackthorns will do best in USDA zones 4-8 .
Is blackthorn a cherry blossom?
The blackthorn is well worth the hunt with its beautiful white blooms, which some will mistake for cherry blossoms, and varied form that can be useful as a hedge, fruit tree, or ornamental shrub. The blackthorn is easy to care for simply because it will require no further care once planted and established correctly.
Do blackthorn trees like standing water?
No matter the soil conditions you give your tree, it should do well as long as it is not in standing water.
What are the differences between Blackthorn and Hawthorn?
With quite distinct leaf shapes, the two species are easier to tell apart once the flowers have faded. Blackthorn leaves are oval with a toothed edge. Hawthorn leaves are lobed with jagged edges. Blackthorn has oval leaves (scroll for hawthorn). Hawthorn leaves are a more unusual lobed shape.
When do hawthorn and blackthorn bloom?
Blackthorn blossoms before its leaves start to show, whereas hawthorn flowers after its leaves have emerged . This is one of the best tips for identifying the two species in spring.
What are the berries that make up Blackthorn?
Red hawthorn berries are an important food source for wildlife (scroll for blackthorn). There's no mistaking the plump purple slo e berries of blackthorn. Red hawthorn berries are an important food source for wildlife (scroll for blackthorn). There's no mistaking the plump pur ple sloe berries of blackthorn.
How many petals does a blackthorn have?
Blackthorn blossom appears before its leaves. Blackthorn and hawthorn flowers both have five petals. Note that hawthorn already has its leaves too (scroll for blackthorn). Blackthorn blossom appears before its leaves. Blackthorn and hawthorn flowers both have five petals.
Why is the Blackthorn tree called Blackthorn?
Blackthorn is named after its dark bark. The twigs are black with leaf buds along the sharp spines. Take care when identifying this tree as its spiky thorns can cause a nasty reaction if you get scratched.
Can hawthorn trees be planted near each other?
The two species often grow near each other, so look out for a chance to test your new ID skills! Blackthorn (pictured) and hawthorn are both popular hedging trees and can often be found growing near each other .
Can you eat hawthorn berries raw?
They’re an important food source for birds and small mammals, and can be eaten by people too. You could get a mild stomach upset if you eat them raw – they’re much better in jellies, wines and ketchups. close. Red hawthorn berries are an important food source for wildlife (scroll for blackthorn).
