Plant · P-923

Hawthorn May

Crataegus laevigata

Hawthorn May is a small, thorny deciduous tree grown for its heavy spring bloom of white flowers, its small red fruit used in jams and heart-supportive preparations, and its use as a dense, stock-proof hedge. Its bioflavonoid-rich fruit, flowers and leaves have a long history of use for cardiovascular support. It grows in full sun to partial shade on soils from sandy to heavy clay, wanting consistently moist, well-drained ground, and performs poorly where summers are long, hot and humid, with fungal leaf spot and rust disfiguring its foliage in that climate.