• General & History -
• Varieties -

Hawthorn produces very hard wood. It is the only proper wood from which to make effective vampire slaying stakes (Croatia, Serbia). It has many other magical properties as well.

In northwestern Europe hawthorn is associated with fairies, and it is considered bad luck to cut one down. Cutting down an old hawthorn to make way for its production facility has been proposed as the source of bad luck encountered by the De Lorean Motor Company.

There are many other folklore associations with this small tree, including that it was used to make Jesus' crown of thorns.

Hawthorns, which grow throughout the temperate Northern Hemisphere, are particularly associated with spring, because many varieties bloom in May. Fruits and various other parts of the tree have long been used medicinally, notably for cardiac and digestive problems. Modern scientific study is being conducted with some early positive indications.

Chinese Hawthorn   -   [Shanzha (China), Crataegus pinnatifida]

Fruit from this small to medium tree is widely used in northern China, both for food and medicinal purposes. They are made into jams, jellies, candy and wine. Notable is the traditional "haw flakes", a dried fruit candy formed into a thin disk about 1 inch diameter.

The photo shows cored fruit from China that had been preserved in a light syrup. About 0.9 inch diameter, they were mildly tart with a flavor reminiscent of lightly cooked apple and pear.

Common Hawthorn   -   [Haw; Crataegus monogyna]

This shrub or small tree is native to Europe, northwest Africa and western Asia but has been introduced to many other parts of the world, where it can easily become a pest. The fruits are about 0.4 inch diameter and are edible raw, cooked or made into jams, jelly or fruit preserves. Flower petals and young leaves are also edible. It is used medicinally to strengthen cardiac function.   Photo by Elstro distributed under license Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported.

Tejocote   -   [Mexican Hawthorn; Manzanita, Tejocotera; Crataegus mexicana]

A small tree native to the mountains of Mexico and parts of Guatemala, but introduced to other parts of the Andes range. In Mexico it is the main ingredient in ponche, the fruit punch served hot at Christmas and New Years. It is used as offerings to the dead and to make various types of fruit candy. Roots and fruit are also used medicinally.

Industrially, pectin is extracted from the fruit for food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical and industrial use. The fruits are generally oblong, about 0.8 inch long and 0.6 inch diameter.   Photo by Daniel Manrique distributed under license Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported.

Mayhaw   -   [Crataegus series Aestivalis]]

Native to wet regions of the southeastern United States (C. aestivalis) and the Texas / Louisiana border region (C. opaca), the fruits of this small tree were formally harvested from shallow boats, but today this has declined due to destruction of wetlands. They are now being cultivated outside the wetlands making them more available.

The primary use of this fruit is the making of a jelly that is considered a highly desirable delicacy.   Illustration from U.S, Department of Agriculture = public domain.

Oriental Hawthorn   -   [Eastern Thorn, Silver Thorn Tree; Crataegus orientalis]

Native to the Mediterranean, Anatolia, Caucasus, Crimea and western Iran, this hawthorn has larger fruits than most, up to 0.8 inch diameter. These fruits are eaten raw, and in the Caucasus are baked in bread. This tree is also used medicinally.   Photo by Melburnian distributed under license Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported.

Siberian Hawthorn   -   [Redhaw Hawthorn, Crataegus sanguinea]

This hawthorn is native to Siberia, Mongolia, and the extreme north of China. The fruits, about 0.4 inch diameter with up to 5 large seeds, are eaten raw and cooked, and used to make jams, jellies and fruit preserves.   Illustration copyright expired.

Azarole   -   [Mosphilla, Mediterranean Medlar; Zalzalak (Iran); Crataegus azarolus]

This tree is native from the Mediterranean basin to Iran, where it is called zalzalak, with the same name applied to a jam made from the fruit. The photo is of unripe fruit, which, when mature will be about 0.75 inch diameter and red in color.   Photo by Cillas distributed under license Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported.

  -   [Crataegus scabrifolia]

This hawthorn grows in wet mountain regions, and is apparently cultivated only in China. Red or yellow fruits are large for a hawthorn, up to 1 inch diameter, and sold fresh in local markets.   Photo by Nadiatalent contributed to the public domain.