This week has seen a fantastic display of white flowers in hedgerows around the area. Hawthorn flowering marks the point where Spring is turning into Summer (difficult to believe with this weather).
Hawthorn (Crataegus) is an ancient plant, surrounded by many myths, but it also plays a vital part in today’s environment. It can support more than 300 insects, provides a food source for moths, dormice and migrating birds and its flowers in May provide nectar and pollen for pollinating insects at time when other flowers haven’t opened yet.
A pagan symbol of fertility, Hawthorn has ancient associations with May Day.
It was the ancestor of the Maypole and its leaves and flowers the source of May Day garlands as well as appearing in the wreath of the Green Man.
Native to the Northern Hemisphere, Crataegus includes more than a 100 different species, and many hybrids. They are small, bushy, thorny, deciduous trees, to 15 meters tall, growing on a single trunk. European species have deeply lobed leaves, with three to nine lobes, while American and Asian species have oval leaves.
They are tough plants with their branching, thorny habit making them ideal as hedging plants. With masses of pollen-rich spring flowers followed by autumn red berries (haws….hence the plants common name Haw Thorn), they provide interest throughout the year.
Most people will be familiar ‘Common Hawthorn‘ (Crataegus monogyna) with its typical white flowers.
It often hybridises with the UK’s other native hawthorn, ‘Midland Hawthorn’ (Crataegus laevigata). Both species are similar and can be hard to tell apart, with ‘Midland Hawthorn’ having two seeds in each of its fruit (haws).
Hawthorns are hermaphrodite, meaning both male and female reproductive parts are contained within each flower. Flowers are highly scented, white or occasionally pink with five petals. Once pollinated by insects, they develop into deep-red ‘haws’, remaining on the branches until the following spring (unless they are eaten).
Hawthorns will grow in most soil types, in sun or light shade. They are tolerant of exposed sites. They do not do well in permanently waterlogged soil and will not flower in deep shade. As well as hedging, a number of cultivated varieties are grown as ornamentals
Crataegus phaenopyrum (Washington Hawthorn) has red autumn colour and abundant clusters of orange-red fruits. It grows to 7 meters tall forming a good specimen tree.
Crataegus laevigata ‘Rosea Flore Pleno’ has beautiful Double Pink Flowers. A small tree that will grow to an estimated 5 metres in 20 years. It has been awarded the prestigeous Award of Garden Merit (AGM) by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).
Crataegus laevigata ‘Crimson Cloud’ has been bred from the ‘Midland Hawthorn’ with single, pinkish-red flowers with white centers. Its a small 5 meter tree for gardens. It too has been awarded AGM from the RHS