- Hawthorn species
- Single Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)
- Hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata)
- Crataegus rhipidophylla)
- Plum-Leaf Hawthorn (Crataegus x prunifolia)
- Hahnendorn (Crataegus crus-galli)
- Scarlet Thorn (Crataegus coccinea)
- Apple Thorn/ Leatherleaf Hawthorn (Crataegus x lavallei 'Carrierei')
- Azarol Thorn (Crataegus azarolus)
- Chinese Hawthorn/ Pinnate Hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida)
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Hawthorns come in a wide variety of species and growth forms. We present nine interesting hawthorn species for the home garden.
In addition to the native hawthorn species, species from different parts of the world have also established themselves in our cities, but also as hedge plants and trees to protect birds. We present 9 types of hawthorn for our gardens and describe growth, site requirements, fruit ripening and use.
Hawthorn species
The genus of hawthorns (Crataegus) is extremely diverse and should find a place in every garden: All hawthorn species provide nectar and nutritious fruits for insects, birds and mammals. In the following list you will find the special features of the respective species and their requirements for the location.
Single Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)
The common hawthorn or hawthorn is native to us and occurs from Europe to western Asia and North Africa. As an undemanding large shrub, it can be found everywhere on sunny forest edges, stony slopes and in hedges and bushes.
The common hawthorn prefers calcareous, medium-heavy, deep and nutrient-rich soil in sunny locations, but also grows in poor locations. The common hawthorn tolerates heat, drought, wind or frost very well.
The dark green, egg-shaped leaves are cut down to the midrib and come up with a yellow to deep red autumn color. Numerous flowers in umbrella panicles bloom from May to June and attract various insects for pollination. The fact that there is only one style in the flower structure gives it its name. This means that only one seed per fruit is produced during fruiting. The dark red, apple-like fruits ripen from September to October. They taste sweet and sour raw, while being floury and bland, but can be added to fruit that is low in pectin for jam production to increase gelation. In times of need, the dried and ground hawthorn fruit was used as a substitute for flour when baking bread. ThereforeThis is also where the regional name "flour thorn" comes from. In medicine, the antihypertensive and circulatory-strengthening effect of flowers, leaves and fruits is valued. The best-known variety is the 6 m high and only 3 m narrow columnar hawthorn Crataegus monogyna 'Stricta'.
Hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata)
The two-style hawthorn is widespread and native from Europe to North Africa. It can be found at the edges of forests, in bushes and as a pioneer in uncultivated open spaces.
It prefers warmer, wetter and more nutritious locations than C. monogyna. The two-style hawthorn also thrives in partial shade and is extremely resistant to frost, wind and cuts. It is about 2 - 6 m, in exceptional cases 10 m high and up to 2 - 6 m wide.
The ovate leaves are notched at most to the midrib. The flowering period begins about two weeks earlier than the common hawthorn, in May. As the name suggests, the flowers of the two-style hawthorn usually have two styles and therefore two seeds in the fruit. The fruits are oblong, deep red and about 1 cm long. They can be used from September just like the hawthorn fruits. Breeding has resulted in numerous ornamental varieties, such as the pink-flowering, light-requiring hawthorn 'Paul's Scarlet' or the largely mildew-free and large-fruited 'Autumn Glory'.
Crataegus rhipidophylla)
The large calyx or long calyx hawthorn is a hawthorn species native to Central Europe. It occurs widely in the low mountain ranges and lowlands of the temperate climate zone.
Of all hawthorns, the large calyx hawthorn is the most shade-tolerant species and thrives in hedges and light deciduous forests. The ideal location is sunny to shady on medium-heavy, deep and well-drained soil with a neutral to high pH value. The leaves are a maximum of 5 cm in size, notched and finely serrated. In June, the large-flowered, white umbrella panicles bloom and exude a sweet scent. From August to September, the rounded to cylindrical, deep red apple fruits ripen and serve as food for birds from then on. They taste sweet and sour raw, are floury and have yellow flesh.
Plum-Leaf Hawthorn (Crataegus x prunifolia)
The plum-leaved hawthorn,or plum thorn probably originated from a cross between cockthorn (Crataegus crus-galli) and the North American juice hawthorn Crataegus succulenta var. macrantha. In Germany, the plum thorn has been used as a permanent small tree in parks, hedges and street greening since 1783.
The frost and heat tolerant large shrub prefers sunny locations with loamy soil. It forms a tree-like shrub 5 - 6 m high and 4 - 5 m wide. The branches are heavily thorny, the foliage is glossy green and turns red-orange in autumn. The flowering period of the plum thorn extends from May to June. A large number of small fruits are formed, which make this hawthorn a good tree for protecting and feeding birds. The best-known variety of plum thorn with medium-strong, upright growth and a straight trunk is Crataegus x prunifolia 'Splendens'.
Hahnendorn (Crataegus crus-galli)
The rooster thorn or rooster spur hawthorn is originally native to north-eastern North America and is found there in meadows and at the edges of forests. It thrives in drier to moist, nutrient-rich, well-drained soils. The pH value of the soil hardly plays a role for the adaptable Hahnendorn. It tolerates wind, frost and saline soils near the coast.
The hawthorn, which grows as a large shrub or small tree with several stems, can reach heights of up to 5 - 7 m, in exceptional cases 9 m. In a single position, the cockthorn is often wider than it is tall. The dense branches have slender thorns up to 8 cm long and serrated leaves with gorgeous yellow, orange and bronze autumn colours. The white-flowered umbrella panicles can grow to 10 cm and bloom from May to June. The numerous, dark red, small, round fruits often remain on the bush in mild winters until spring.
Scarlet Thorn (Crataegus coccinea)
The scarlet thorn or scarlet hawthorn is native to eastern North America. It prefers sunny locations on medium to light, dry to wet soil. The scarlet thorn is very adaptable in terms of pH, but thrives best in neutral to strongly alkaline soils.
The frost hardy and wind resistant,Multi-stemmed large shrub or small tree and grows to a height of around 5 - 7 m and a spread of up to 3 - 4 m. The up to 5 cm long, hard and very sharp thorns protect bird's nests from predators. The leaves of the scarlet thorn are broadly elliptical and doubly serrated. The numerous clustered white flowers with striking pink stamens appear in May. After pollination, conspicuous, scarlet-red, apple-like fruits are formed, up to 2 cm across. The magnificent autumn colors appear late in the year with bright yellow-orange hues.
Apple Thorn/ Leatherleaf Hawthorn (Crataegus x lavallei 'Carrierei')
The apple thorn was created around 1870 by crossing a cockthorn with the Mexican hawthorn Crataegus mexicana f. stipulata in the Arboretum Segrez in France. The ideal location for this hawthorn hybrid is on moderately heavy to light, dry to fresh soil. The apple thorn tolerates pH values in the neutral to strongly alkaline range.
It tolerates heat, drought and frost well and is completely hardy. As a small tree or large shrub, it can reach a height of 7 m or more. Older apple thorns can be almost twice as wide as they are high. The 5 - 15 cm long, toothed leaves remain on the bush until December. The numerous white to pink flowers bloom in umbrella panicles in May. The bright orange-red speckled fruits, up to almost 2 cm across, hang decoratively on the bush until January and serve as a food source for the local fauna.
Azarol Thorn (Crataegus azarolus)
The azarole thorn is native to West Asia and North Africa and is cultivated throughout the Mediterranean for its large, tasty fruits. It is also known as Italian medlar or Azarol apple. In earlier times, the azarolthorn was also often found north of the Alps - as a wild fruit tree that was hardy down to -23 °C. Nowadays it has almost completely disappeared and is unknown. It prefers a sunny to half-shady spot on fresh to moist, nutrient-rich, sandy-loamy soil.
The small tree or large shrub with a height of about 5 - 8 m has strongly pinnate leaves and flowers from June to July. The round to pear-shaped, red to light yellow fruits are 2 - 3 cm in size and have a sweet and sour aromatic taste similar to apples.They have a very high vitamin C content and are eaten raw or processed in jams, compotes or baked goods.
Chinese Hawthorn/ Pinnate Hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida)
For about 2000 years, C. pinnatifida grown in China to East Asia. The preferred location is sunny to semi-shady on fresh to moist, sandy-loamy soil. The small tree, hardy down to -23 °C, reaches heights of 4 - 7 m.
Its large dark green leaves are deeply notched and long-stalked. The Chinese hawthorn flowers from May to June and in the autumn develops round, blood-red fruits that are up to 3 cm in size. The taste is sour and mealy, which is why they are mainly candied or made into jelly, chewy candy, juice and wine. In folk medicine, the dried fruits of the Chinese hawthorn are used to relieve indigestion.
In gardens that are close to nature, a bird protection hedge made from native hedge plants makes an important contribution to preserving biodiversity. With us you will find out which native shrubs are suitable for birds and which species are better avoided.