Hawthorn, common

Hawthorn is one of the most common species of tree found in hedgerows and woodland throughout Britain.

What other names does it have?

Can also be known as	Ske (Old Irish) Porn (Old Norse) Hag (Old English) Hagthorn Azzy Tree Holy Innocents' May Quickthorn May-Tree Whitethorn White-May Thorn-bush Quick Mother-die May (for blossom) Awes Asogs Azzies Aglets Agags Arzy-garzies Boojuns
Generic name	Hawthorn
Latin name	Crataegus monogyna
Family name	Rose
Latin family name	Rosaceae

What type of tree is it?

Is it a broadleaf or conifer?	It is a broadleaf
Does it lose its leaves in autumn?	Yes, it is deciduous

Species description:

Average height	12-15m

Leaf

Description	Toothed lobes cut at least halfway to the middle or 'mid-rib'. Main veins curve outwards. There are tufts of hair on the underside of the leaf where the veins join
Shape	Lobed
Size	Up to 6cm
Colour	Green
Colour of leaves in autumn	Yellow
Leaf stalk	Short stalk
Leaf arrangement	Alternate
Leaf burst usually occurs	Late April

Flower, seed, and fruit

Type of flower	Clustered/grouped flowers
Flower size	1.5cm across
Flowering season	May or early June
Tree/flower sex	Both sexes
Fruit colour	Ripen to red
Fruit season	Late August onwards
Type of seed body	Fruit
Seeds dispersed by	Wildlife

Bark and twig

Bark description	Brown with shallow scaling ridges
Twig Description	Slender and brown with individual thorns 1-2cm long along the twig

What other trees are similar?

Can easily be confused with?	Midland Hawthorn - this has leaf lobes less than halfway to mid-rib and the main veins are straight

Where is it usually found?

Is it native or non-native to the British Isles?	Native
Where is its natural range?	Britain and Ireland
Preferred soil type or environmental conditions?	Tolerates almost every kind of soil but flowers and fruits best in full sun. Abundantly found in hedges
What is its British conservation status?	Common

Additional information

Human uses of tree and timber

Hawthorn, or quickthorn, was the most common species used for hedging during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries after the parliamentary enclosures. The timber is hard and tough and was used for veneer and cabinet work, boxes, tool handles, mill-wheel teeth, mallets and the ribs of small boats. It also makes excellent firewood and charcoal. Over the ages the haws and hawthorn flowers have been used to make a variety of jellies, wines, liqueurs and ketchups.

Tree lore and folklore

Hawthorn has more connections with ancient beliefs and traditions than almost any other tree. It was a powerful supernatural force for good or for evil. The appearance of the May blossom was the herald of the end of winter and the beginning of summer. Often, the May Queen was crowned with May blossom but at the same time it was considered unlucky to bring May flowers into a house.

Common Hawthorn flowering

Common Hawthorn - twig with thorns

Common Hawthorn leaf

Common Hawthorn leaves and berries

Illustrations supplied by
Collins

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