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How big does a hawthorn bush get?
Mature Size The Washington hawthorn grows to a height of 25–30' and a spread of about 25' at maturity.
Why is hawthorn forbidden?
It is accessible and common, and its froth of white flowers are attractive - yet no flower is considered more unlucky. To take hawthorn blossom into a house was thought to invite illness and death. Children were forbidden to bring it home.
What is a hawthorn tree look like?
Hawthorns are decidious plants with simple leaves that are usually toothed or lobed. The white or pink flowers, usually in clusters, are followed by small applelike pomes that range from red to orange to blue or black.
Is hawthorn a good tree?
Because of its size and three seasons of interest, hawthorn makes a great plant for small space yards. However, the tree can have sizable thorns that make it difficult to work around. There are some thornless varieties on the market. Hawthorn trees are hardy throughout New England.
Why are hawthorn trees special?
A fantastic tree for wildlife that can support more than 300 species of insect. Its flowers are eaten by dormice and provide nectar and pollen for bees and other pollinating insects. The haws are rich in antioxidants and are eaten by migrating birds such as redwings.
Is hawthorn tree invasive?
Somewhat tolerant of shade as well as drought, common hawthorn invades both open fields and woodlands in Washington, Oregon and California.
Can you grow hawthorn as a tree?
Hawthorn can be grown as a tree or a hedge. As trees, they are small to medium-sized and ideal for your garden. As hedges, they form a dense boundary that blossoms and supports wildlife.
What is the lifespan of a hawthorn tree?
A healthy Hawthorn of some species can live as long as 400 years. Hawthorn has much lore and a variety of historical uses.
How tall does a hawthorn grow?
Songbirds love hawthorns too, and they'll visit often in fall and winter to enjoy the bright colored berries. Most hawthorn trees grow 15 to 30 feet (4.5-9 m.) tall—the perfect size for urban gardens.
How quickly do hawthorn trees grow?
between 40-60cm per yearAs it grows quickly - between 40-60cm per year - it should be trimmed after flowering, or during the autumn, but you must check for nesting birds before doing so. Hawthorn is available as a bare root, root ball and pot grown plant, as well as instant hedging for immediate impact.
Can you keep a hawthorn tree small?
It is vital not to over-prune a hawthorn tree as this can stunt its growth, and you must never trim this tree until it is well established and at least 1.5 metres in height. If you want to enhance the May blossom once the tree is mature, prune during the winter.
What does hawthorn look like in winter?
What to look for in winter. Hawthorn twigs are usually shiny, with thorns up to 2cm long. The buds are hairless, and the leaf scar below bud looks like a smiling face!
What does the hawthorn symbolize?
The Hawthorn is a tree of magical enchantment and is strongly associated with Beltane, the ancient festival celebrating spring. In Celtic mythology it is one of the most sacred trees and symbolises love and protection.
Is hawthorn in the Bible?
In Christian mythology, it is said that the crown of Christ was made of Hawthorn. Some authorities have claimed that the Holy Spirit has a certain peculiar affinity with thorn trees. The burning bush apparition mentioned in the Bible is thought to have been a thorn tree.
Is a hawthorn poisonous?
There are no “poisonous” Hawthorns except for the seeds. Many Hawthorns, while not poisonous, are not palatable. Some improve with cooking. The genus has many medicinal uses and is known for its heart support and is actually a beta blocker.
Is it unlucky to cut down a hawthorn tree?
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 or 'Fairy Thorn' standing alone in the middle of a country field.
What is a hawthorn tree?
Native to eastern North America, hawthorn is a showy, small tree that breaks into clouds of white flowers in spring, followed by vivid fall color, and long-lasting red winter fruits. The fruits, which resemble rosehips, stand out in a snowbound landscape. Robins sometimes line the branches in mid- to late winter, harvesting the fruits. This tree is also known as cockspur thorn, and for good reason. It sports numerous long, sharp thorns along its horizontal branches—which is why a grouping of these trees makes an excellent barrier or living fence. Hawthorns prefer a well-drained, slightly acidic soil but are unflappable in heat and humidity.
What is a thornless hawthorn?
The development of thornless hawthorns means that user-friendly varieties of this tree can now spread their horizontal branches in landscapes of all kinds, including those enjoyed by children and pets.
What trees are good for screen planting?
Great planting partners include crabapple, redbud, and serviceberry. All of these trees flower in spring to create a colorful screen that also provides sustenance for pollinators during flowering. Thanks to its thorns, this tree also makes a good hedge or screen plant on a property line or at the far edge of a landscape.
Do you have to prune a hawthorn tree?
Hawthorn rarely requires pruning. Remove dead or diseased branches as soon as possible. Many fungal diseases and pests plague hawthorn, such as rust, fire blight, powdery mildew, cankers, apple scab, and leaf blight. For the healthiest tree possible, start by choosing a disease-resistant variety. Do your part to keep hawthorn healthy by planting it in an area with well-drained soil and good air circulation.
How to tell the difference between hawthorn trees?
Hawthorn tree varieties look relatively similar to one another. It can be rather tricky trying to identify the differences between them. One of the easiest ways is to observe its fruit. Different varieties develop slightly different sizes, shapes, and colors of berry.
What do Hawthorn Trees Look Like?
Despite the vast number of hawthorn species, many of them look relatively the same. Classified as small trees or shrubs, they grown to be between 5-15 meters tall on average. Their bark is smooth and light gray on young trees, and as they age they develop vertical shallow fissures with narrow ridges.
What is the Spiritual Significance of the Hawthorn Tree?
In Ireland, certain hawthorn trees are referred to as a “fairy tree”. The folklore says that it is incredibly bad luck to cut down or alter the fairy tree in any way . People who believe this will hang hawthorn branches above their doors to help ward away negative spirits.
How do Hawthorn Trees Reproduce?
Hawthorn trees possess hermaphroditic flowers, meaning that they possess both male and female characteristics. The male characteristics are staminate, meaning they are pollen-producing, and the female characteristics are carpellate, meaning that they are ovule producing.
What are the Growing Conditions of Hawthorn Trees?
Hawthorn trees, though susceptible to various pests and diseases, are surprisingly tough and hardy trees. They are quite tolerant of drought, as long as the initial growth stages of their life occurred in a moisture-rich environment.
Why are hawthorn trees not invasive?
Because hawthorn tree roots don’t need to search for the elements it needs, the root system remains relatively compact and shallow growing. These roots are not of the invasive kind.
What are the characteristics of a hawthorn tree?
Hawthorn trees possess hermaphroditic flowers, meaning that they possess both male and female characteristics. The male characteristics are staminate, meaning they are pollen-producing, and the female characteristics are carpellate, meaning that they are ovule producing.
How tall do hawthorn trees grow?
Hawthorn trees have long, hard thorns and typically grow up to 25 feet tall. If you don’t prune off lower branches, they develop into a shrub. In the landscape, their dense branches make useful privacy screens and some are ideal hedges.
What is the best hawthorn tree for a garden?
Many varieties of hawthorn trees are available for your home garden, but the following have exceptional qualities. Washington hawthorn (C. phaenopyrum) is the least susceptible to fireblight, attracts bees to help pollinate other plants and grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 8. May hawthorn (C. aestivalis) has dramatic drooping branches that resist breaking, provides very dense shade and grows in zones 6 through 9. Russian hawthorn (C. ambigua) adds winter interest with its attractive branching habit and grows in zones 6 through 8.
What is the pest that kills hawthorn trees?
Hawthorn trees are susceptible to numerous pests including apple aphid, the bark beetle known as the shothole borer and San Jose scale. Apple aphids seldom kill the tree, and they disperse in hot weather. Aphids can be knocked off with a spray of your garden hose.
What is the color of the leaves on a hawthorn tree?
In spring or summer, this deciduous tree produces showy flowers in white or shades of pink and red, depending on the variety. In autumn, the leaves add interest to your landscape as they turn gold, orange, red or multi-colored.
Do hawthorn trees grow in dry soil?
Hawthorn trees grow well in a number of climactic conditions including coastal areas and zones with cold winters. They thrive in acidic or alkaline soil and many tolera te moist to dry soil, including “Carrieri” (C. x lavallei “Carrierei”) and Chinese hawthorn (C. pinnitifida).
Do hawthorn trees need water?
Hawthorn trees grow best in full sun and require a moderate amount of water. In fact, irrigating too much encourages overly dense growth that compromises the plant's vigor. Lightly thin inner branches annually during dormancy to let the sunshine in and help the plant produce more flowers and fruit.
What is a hawthorn tree?
Hawthorn trees ( Crataegus) are small fruit-bearing deciduous trees with thorny branches, dark green leaves, and clusters of small white pungent flowers. The fruit from hawthorn trees are small red pome fruits that look like clusters of miniature crabapples. Hawthorns are popular ornamental landscape trees that grow in confined spaces where there are poor soil and drainage.
What is the name of the English hawthorn tree?
Other common names for the English hawthorn tree are the smooth hawthorn, Midland hawthorn, and quickset thorn.
What is a Mayhaw tree?
Mayhaw Trees. Some types of hawthorn trees are called Mayhaw trees – these are the varieties Crataegus aestivalis and Crataegus opaca. Mayhaw trees are midsize fruit trees that are renowned for their berry-like mayhaw fruits that ripen in late April and May.
How tall does a cockspur hawthorn tree grow?
The thornless cockspur hawthorn thrives in full sun and most types of moist soils. The shrubby tree grows between 20 and 30 ft. (6 – 9 m). However, with regular pruning, you can limit its height. Depending on your landscaping needs, you can grow this hawthorn species as a flowering hedge, privacy screen, or specimen tree.
How tall do Chinese hawthorns grow?
Chinese hawthorns grow between 15 and 23 ft. (4.5 – 7 m) tall. This low-maintenance tree species has thin gray bark and an irregular, rounded crown.
What kind of soil does a hawthorn tree need?
The common hawthorn ( Crataegus monogyna) grows best in full sun or partial shade and moist, well-drained soil.
How tall is the English Hawthorn?
Also called the woodland hawthorn or mayflower, Crataegus laevigata grows up to 26 ft. (8 m) tall.
What family is a hawthorn tree?
Hawthorn trees fall in the genus Crataegus, comprising hundreds of species in the Rose family ( Rosaceae ). Here’s how to grow and use hawthorn in the landscape, along with a list of common and garden-worthy varieties. On this page: Basics | Planting | Care & Pruning | Choosing the Right Hawthorn | Pictures | Design.
What is a hawthorn?
Chinese hawthorn is sturdy, drought-tolerant, and forgiving of various soil conditions.
What diseases can affect a hawthorn tree?
One of the most common and damaging diseases is fire blight. Other diseases include leaf spot, cedar hawthorn rust, powdery mildew, cankers and apple scab.
Why plant English hawthorn in a meadow?
Plant English hawthorn or a native variety as a hedgerow in a meadow garden to provide food and shelter for songbirds and other wildlife.
What is a Chinese hawthorn?
Chinese hawthorn is sturdy, drought-tolerant, and forgiving of various soil conditions. Varieties include ‘Red Sun’ and ‘Autumn Golden Star’.
What is a hedgerow hawthorn?
Also known as midland hawthorn, woodland hawthorn, or mayflower, this European native is commonly grown as hedgerows in England. Valued for its attractive lobed foliage, flowers in spring, and bright red fruit. Tolerant of varying growing conditions including poor soil, salt, and urban pollution, making it a good choice for cities and coastal areas. Somewhat susceptible to leaf spot.
What is a thorn tree?
A southeastern U.S. native with a rounded dense canopy. Glossy leaves have pointed lobes and serrated edges. Clusters of flowers appear in late spring and have a somewhat unpleasant scent. Bright red fruit is a favorite of songbirds. Tolerant of heat, drought, and poor soils, and one of the most resistant to fire blight. Sharp thorns make this a good choice to prune into a security hedge.
What is the color of a hawthorn tree?
Here are a few to consider: Crataegus crus-galli var. inermis is commonly called thornless cockspur hawthorn. It has a lovely orange-red fall color and 3 inch (8 cm.) clusters of white flowers that bloom in spring.
Why are hawthorn trees so popular?
Hawthorn trees are a delight to have in the landscape because of their attractive shape, shade potential, and clusters of pink or white flowers that bloom in spring. Songbirds love hawthorns too, and they’ll visit often in fall and winter to enjoy the bright colored berries.
What is the name of the hawthorn with red flowers?
C. laevigata ‘Crimson Cloud’ is an English hawthorn with bright red flowers and fine-textured leaves. C. phaenopyrum, called Washington hawthorn, is more disease resistant than most. The leaves go through a succession of color changes and the flowers are bright white.
What diseases do hawthorn trees have?
Growing hawthorn plants comes with its share of problems because they are susceptible to a number of diseases, including apple scab, fire blight, leaf spots, leaf blights, and several types of rust. Some of the diseases are potentially fatal and they leave the foliage and twigs looking tattered by the end of the season. If you decide to grow a hawthorn tree, look for a disease resistant variety such as ‘Winter King’ or ‘Washington’ hawthorn.
Can you trim a hawthorn tree?
You can trim the canopy, if necessary, to keep it looking neat. Make cuts just beyond a lateral twig or bud that faces the direction in which you want the branch to grow. You might want to make routine spraying a part of your hawthorn tree care plan.
Do hawthorn trees need sun?
Hawthorn trees need full sun and well-drained soil. They tolerate almost any type of soil and variations in pH.
Can you spray a hawthorn tree with horticultural oil?
You can damage the tree by spraying with horticultural oils at the wrong time, so read the label instructions carefully before spraying. Use a general-purpose spray labeled for hawthorn trees later in the season. Printer Friendly Version.
What is a hawthorn tree?
The Hawthorn is an attractive large shrub or small tree. The Hawthorn tree has white flowers similar to apple blossoms that attracts butterflies and beneficial insects. The berries are called haws, are red or black and are known for many medicinal uses. Chinese Hawthorns would make a great jelly, eaten fresh, used in drinks, ...
What do Chinese hawthorns make?
Chinese Hawthorns would make a great jelly, eaten fresh, used in drinks, or dried and used in candies. The berries of the native Black Hawthorn provide food in the winter and the thorny branches provide protection for birds.
How tall do thorny trees grow?
Thorny branches. Bushy growth to about 20 ft. tall but can be pruned to a shrub-sized hedge.
What is a hawthorn tree?
Many species and hybrids are used as ornamental and street trees. The common hawthorn is extensively used in Europe as a hedge plant. During the British Agricultural Revolution in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, hawthorn saplings were mass propagated in nurseries to create the new field boundaries required by the Inclosure Acts. Several cultivars of the Midland hawthorn C. laevigata have been selected for their pink or red flowers. Hawthorns are among the trees most recommended for water conservation landscapes.
Where is the Hawthorn tree native to?
Crataegus ( / krəˈtiːɡəs / ), 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, North Africa, and North America. The name "hawthorn" was originally applied ...
What is the traditional medicine of hawthorn?
Traditional medicine. Several species of hawthorn have been used in traditional medicine. The products used are often derived from C. monogyna, C. laevigata, or related Crataegus species, "collectively known as hawthorn", not necessarily distinguishing between these species. The dried fruits of Crataegus pinnatifida (called shān zhā in Chinese) ...
What is a 4 cm fruit?
The 4 cm fruits of the species Crataegus pinnatifida (Chinese hawthorn) are tart, bright red, and resemble small crabapple fruits. They are used to make many kinds of Chinese snacks, including haw flakes and being coated in sugar syrup and put on a stick tanghulu.
What is the purpose of a hawthorn?
Hawthorns are also used as food plants by the larvae of a large number of Lepidoptera species, such as the small eggar moth, E. lanestris. Haws are important for wildlife in winter, particularly thrushes and waxwings; these birds eat the haws and disperse the seeds in their droppings.
When do hawthorns bloom?
The custom of employing the flowering branches for decorative purposes on 1 May is of very early origin, but since the adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1752, the tree has rarely been in full bloom in England before the second week of that month. In the Scottish Highlands, the flowers may be seen as late as the middle of June. The hawthorn has been regarded as the emblem of hope, and its branches are stated to have been carried by the ancient Greeks in wedding processions, and to have been used by them to deck the altar of Hymenaios. The supposition that the tree was the source of Jesus 's crown of thorns doubtless gave rise around 1911 to the tradition among the French peasantry that it utters groans and cries on Good Friday, and probably also to the old popular superstition in Great Britain and Ireland that ill luck attended the uprooting of hawthorns. Branches of Glastonbury thorn ( C. monogyna 'Biflora', sometimes called C. oxyacantha var. praecox ), which flowers both in December and in spring, were formerly highly valued in England, on account of the legend that the tree was originally the staff of Joseph of Arimathea.
Where did the dread of harming hawthorn trees originate?
The superstitious dread of harming hawthorn trees prevalent in the British Isles may also be connected to an old belief that hawthorns, and more especially 'lone thorns' (self-seeded specimens standing in isolation from other trees) originate from lightning or thunderbolts and give protection from lightning strikes.
