Hawthorn: Plant profile
Common names
Hawthorn, Common Hawthorn, Oneseed Hawthorn, Haw, Thornapple, May Tree, Whitethorn, Quickthorn, Sceach Gheal
Botanical name
Crataegus monogyna
Plant family
Rosaceae (Rose)
Distribution
Hawthorn originates from Europe, northwest Africa, and western Asia. It thrives extensively throughout Ireland and the UK, with the exception of the northern region of Scotland.
Where to find Hawthorn
The hawthorn tree is prevalent in various habitats, including deciduous woodlands, hedgerows, scrublands, and public parks.
When to find Hawthorn
Pick buds and flowers during the early to mid-spring season, and berries during the early to mid-autumn period.
How to identify Hawthorn
Hawthorn is a deciduous shrub or small tree growing up to 6 m. It typically has a structure consisting of tangled masses of thorny branches. The leaves, resembling parsley, are lobed into three segments.
The flowers emit an almond-like fragrance and are small, white, with five petals. The fruit, which is red in colour and small in size, contains one stone, although other species may have more.
Hawthorn lookalikes
Common Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) frequently hybridises with Midland Hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata). Both species exhibit remarkable similarity, but Common Hawthorn produces fruits with a single seed, while Midland Hawthorn bears berries with two seeds.
Apart from this distinction, it can be challenging to differentiate the different hawthorns, although both species are edible.
Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) bears berries that superficially resemble those of Hawthorn, characterized by a dark-orange colour. However, the leaves of Rowan are completely different from Hawthorn.
All about Hawthorn
The humble hawthorn is one of the most magical and enchanted trees of Britain’s hedgerows. It is steeped in numerous traditions and folklore, earning its reputation as a fairy tree cherished by hedge witches.
This omnipresent tree breathes life into the countryside, adorning it with its intoxicating and captivating May blossom. As autumn arrives, the hawthorn transforms its blooms into glistening red berries, just when the tree starts to shed its leaves.
Culinary uses and recipes with Hawthorn
Young shoots and unopened flower buds were once known as ‘bread and cheese’. Though much healthier, unfortunately they taste of neither.
The berries, known as Haws, bear a resemblance to mild apples, although their flesh is notably dense and dry. They are particularly suitable for making delicious jellies to accompany cheese, and can serve as an excellent substitute for ketchup.
Haws have also found their place in the production of country wines and homemade schnapps, adding their unique flavour and medicinal properties to these beverages.
In addition, the leaves, flowers, and berries of the hawthorn can be used to make an herbal tea.
Medicinal properties of Hawthorn
Hawthorn stands as one of the most extensively scientifically validated herbal medicines, renowned for its remarkable restorative properties for the heart and circulation.
It plays a crucial role in regulating heartbeat and managing high blood pressure effectively.
Additionally, this plant harbours a wealth of beneficial compounds, including vitamins B and C, which further contribute to its overall health-enhancing properties.
Safe foraging of Hawthorn
When collecting Haws, it is essential to exercise caution due to the presence of thorns on the plant.
The seeds of Hawthorn contain a cyanogenic compound known as amygdalin. As a result, consumption of these seeds should be avoided for safety reasons.
Ecological importance of Hawthorn
Hawthorn serves as a valuable provider of shelter and nesting spaces for hedgerow birds, offering them a safe haven in their natural habitat.
The leaves of Hawthorn are a food source for caterpillars, especially those of moths, and its flowers serve as a rich pollen source for bees and other essential pollinating insects, supporting their vital role in ecosystem health.
In addition to these ecological benefits, the berries of Hawthorn serve as a nourishing food source for migratory birds, adding to the seasonal sustenance they rely upon during their journeys.
Sustainable Hawthorn foraging
Foraging Hawthorn berries is a sustainable option, as it’s one of the most common trees in the British Isles.
Nevertheless, it is crucial to uphold the usual foraging guidelines while harvesting. Ensure that you distribute your picking efforts across various trees, ensuring there are ample berries left behind for birds to nourish themselves.
Similarly, it is important to leave an adequate number of flowers on the tree, allowing it to produce berries later in the autumn.
40 thoughts on “Hawthorn”
I have really enjoyed reading the comments, I recently bought a jar of Hawthorn jam whilst in Cyprus, it was so delicious and whilst using it, I had less heart palpitations, amazing! I wondered if anyone had a recipe for making it, Hawthorn jam or honey whatever you call it… as this little jar has now run out, sadly!
Thanks for great information I am going to buy hawthorn berry’s to lower my cholesterol
Hi I thought I’d ask this because I’m new to berry picking i have seen loads of what I think is Hawthorn trees but I’m not sure it grows in the hedgerows where I live
It looks like pictures Iv see but it doesn’t have any thorns
It’s berries are red and there is one pip inside
Hi Roslyne. Hawthorn do not always have thorns and it’s very common everywhere, so there is a possibility that it could be.
Compare the leaf against a picture, check it out again in spring when it flowers to compare the flower as well, etc until you familiarise with the tree.
Also be aware of possible lookalikes. Always be 100% sure before consuming any berries!
Does adding sugar to the recipe negate the health benefits of the haws?
Hi David,
Just like any jam, jelly or sauce, the sugar acts as a preservative.
You are still getting the nutrients from the fruit, only that it has added sugar, which should be okay as long as it’s eaten in moderation.
Just checking, although I think it’s been answered above, in combination … We have a hawthorn in the garden but it has dark pink/red blossom. Can this be treated the same?
Hi Vic,
Those cultivars have edible flowers as well, yes
I never knew hawthorn was such a medicinal gem. A huge bush of it grows in my little garden. It’s beautiful all year with its blossom and then its berries and the birds love it. I’m thrilled, having been told my blood pressure is too high and could benefit from it, to have it on tap for free! Thanks for all the tips on how to use and preserve it.
Since the medicinal advice says that the seeds contain a cyanide compound, are hawthorn berries safe to eat in their entirety or do you have to ensure that the seeds are removed …either before cooking or stained out after cooking?
Hi Pam,
Think of hawthorn seeds as you’d do with cherries: the stone contains poisonous compounds too, but you’d not want to eat it anyway, because it’s so tough. And if you do, you’d need to ingest a good quantity in order to cause any adverse effects.
The Amygdalin in the seeds is Vitamin B17 which is an ancient and well known cure for cancer. Tollerance to the B17 must be increased gradually, so only start out with small amounts initially.
Vitamin B17 is actually a misnomer, not an actual vitamin. While amygdalin is a naturally occurring chemical compound, vitamin b17 ( laetrile) is a chemical derivative.
There is not enough reliable scientific evidence to show that laetrile or amygdalin can treat cancer, so its use remains controversial.
Either way, amygdalin may cause serious adverse effects if taken in quantities, so please anybody make sure you do your own research and talk to your medical practitioner for professional advice.
Hawthorns all around my farm are a bright red. How can I tell if they’re ripe enough to pick? Is the flesh a certain color when fully ripe? Thanks.
Hi Sylvia,
Green unripe fruit turns red eventually. Hawthorn often hybridise naturally, so colour tone may vary from tree to tree (and flavour profile too). As long as the haws are red, they are ripe and ready to eat.
Why are the berries inedible?
Hi Barb,
Berries are edible and are quite good to make sauces. Besides, really good medicine for your heart!
Most of the hawthorn berries around me have little black spots on them. Do these need removing before I use the berries?
Hi Emily,
I would generally advise to just eat fruit and berries in good condition, as you would do when buying from the shops.
Am I right that the Midland Hawthorn doesn’t have thorns?
Hi Laura,
Midland hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata) have thorns too.
Some hybrids and certain hawthorn cultivars do not have thorns, such as C. Crusgalli var. Inermis, a popular ornamental landscape tree.
I need to get my blood pressure down I don’t take any blood pressure tablets. I always eat fruit for my breakfast. With weetabix. I have a hedge of Hawthorn. Can I chew the leaves as new leaves are forming. I don’t know the amount to use. For the berries, I have been told not to eat the pips.
Hi Mary,
The leaves are best eaten in Spring when the new growth starts to emerge. Afterwards, the leaves get tougher and unpalatable.
The berries are edible but the seeds are not; best made into jams and jellies or infused in alcoholic drinks, such as vodka or brandy.
I am afraid I cannot give any medical advice, as I am not qualified for that.
You can make a decoction with the berries (boil up the berries in water to make a tea) about a tablespoon of fresh, half of dried, per cup. They’re pretty safe so as much as you like really though maybe start with one cup and build up to see how it affects you x
Hi Jayne,
That’s really good medicine for your heart.
Now it’s a good time to stock up and dry some berries for the rest of the year.
Hi, what’s the best method for drying berries (if you don’t have a dehydrator)?
Hi Justin,
Radiators are awesome dehydrators. I use them a lot.
Otherwise, you can use the oven at a very low temperature (door ajar), but you’ll waste far too much energy, as you need to use them for long periods.
Pull the berries off the tree in handfuls. Freeze them as they are.
When you take some to use, crunch them to break off any twigs,
Roll them down a tray to separate them from the twigs and THEN wash them. If you freeze them wet they will form a solid block. Bring them to boil in some water and then turn off heat and break the skins with a potato masher. Leave to stew for at least ten minutes (or 10 hours if you like) strain and leave to settle, and drink. I use 15 to 20 berries daily
Do you know if the leaves and flowers are edible on the Double Pink Hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata)? The leaves are pretty much identical to Crataegus monogyna, but the flowers are very different.
Hi Hugh,
Both leaves and flowers are edible on the midland Hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata) and the cultivar hybrids (Crataegus × media). That includes double pink flowering hawthorn.
Thanks for this beautiful article. Can you eat raw hawthorn blossom? Or do you need to heat it? I was going to use it in salad and on top of a cake for decoration. Is it just flowers or is the stalk edible too? Thank you! ?
Hi Melissa,
The flowers are edible raw. I would recommend to use the leaf buds or young leaves for a salad and the flowers for decoration purposes as you mentioned, or to make tea or a cordial. Don’t bother with the stalks, as the flavour is in the flower.
I harvested some berries to make into a tincture tomorrow (Equinox), but I heard today that they shouldn’t be harvested until the first frost, when the tree fills the berries (or tree seeds) with optimum goodness. Could I still make a tincture, or would it be medicinally ineffective?
Also have you information on the energetic properties of crataegus?
Kind regards
Hi Amanda,
As long as the fruit is red and ripe, it’s ready to use.
In the past, people would wait until the first frost when foraging for berries, because the frost has the effect of both breaking the skins of the fruit and make them release the natural sugars. Luckily, we can replicate the effect with freezers nowadays, so you do not need to wait that long!
I love foraging, but I don’t do much maybe in the local park for elderberries. I hate to waste things that are natural gifts. At the moment I want to find some fresh Hawthorne berries, I’d even try the leaves for tea.
I just feel such satisfaction from picking these things from scratch.
My problem is that I don’t know where to find Hawthorne , oh I know that they’re not ready yet, but I’d like to find them.
I would like to join a foraging group but I have a back problem which affects my ankle …I where a brace. So it depends on where I walk.
Hi Beverley. The best time to spot hawthorn is around May, when the trees are in full bloom. Beautiful white flowers easy to see from the distance. Otherwise, just keep your eyes peeled, hawthorn is a very common tree, easily found all over the UK and Ireland in every corner!
Good ideas we’ve all lost contact with the wild. And foraging
Fortunately, more and more people are rediscovering old traditions and foraging! 🙂
I just harvested a load of hawthorn berries. Do you have a recipe for how it can be used to make a ketchup substitute?
Hope this one helps, Kathy:
-Hawthorn ketchup recipe-
Put 500 g berries in a pan with 300 ml vinegar and 300ml water. Bring to a boil, lower the heat and simmer for 30 minutes until soft and squishy. Sieve pips / skins and add 170g sugar to the puree. Bring to the boil and simmer for another 5 min. Finally, bottle and seal.