Common Hawthorn, Quickthorn (Crataegus monogyna)
The Common Hawthorn or Quickthorn is an irregularly shaped large shrub or small tree of moderate growth potential. Ideal for topiaries and hedging. The pungently smelling white umbels flower at the end of May. The red fruits are edible but tasteless.
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Appearance
The Common Hawthorn or Quickthorn is an irregularly shaped large shrub or small tree of moderate growth potential. Ideal for topiaries and hedging. The pungently smelling white umbels flower at the end of May. The red fruits are edible but tasteless.
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Spring
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Autumn
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Leaves
Palmate fissured, with 3-7 lobes, 3-5cm long, 2.5-5cm wide, leaf stem 1.5-2.5cm long. Roughly toothed edge. Fresh green shoots appear early. Leaves are dark green above and blue-green below, turning yellow-red in autumn.
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Leaf upperside
Palmate fissured, with 3-7 lobes, 3-5cm long, 2.5-5cm wide, leaf stem 1.5-2.5cm long. Roughly toothed edge. Fresh green shoots appear early. Leaves are dark green above and blue-green below, turning yellow-red in autumn.
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Leaf underside
Palmate fissured, with 3-7 lobes, 3-5cm long, 2.5-5cm wide, leaf stem 1.5-2.5cm long. Roughly toothed edge. Fresh green shoots appear early. Leaves are dark green above and blue-green below, turning yellow-red in autumn.
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Flowers
Flowering period V-VI, richly flowering white corymbs with 5-6 flowers each.
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Fruits
Pea-sized pale to purple-pink apple-like fruit, approx. 1cm in diameter; edible, but tasteless.
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Bark
Pale grey bark turns brown after peeling; dark orange-brown when young, turns grey-green with deep furrows or peels when old. Branches are grey-brown, brown or grey-green.
Application
Open country, open fields, bird protection, forage for honey-bees, parks, urban areas, roadside verges, car parks, pedestrian precincts, topiary, gardens, front gardens, verandas, winter gardens
Native regions
Central and northern Europe
Location parameters
Light: sunny to semi-shady, temperature: warm to cool, soil: extremely dry to moist, soil structure: firm to loose, soil depth: deep, compaction: to be avoided soil quality: medium to high, pH value: 6.0 to 8.0
Demands
Sun to slight shade; heat-tolerant, frost-hardy; grows in all nutrient-rich, neutral to chalky substrates; will not grow in low-nutrient, dry soils; tolerant of urban climates, intolerant of salt; extremely resistant to wind
Growth
Height of growth: 2m to 10m, spread: 3m to 8m, normal growth potential, growth habits: tree-like, shrubby, spherical, semi-spherical, open-crowned
Leaves
Palmate fissured, with 3-7 lobes, 3-5cm long, 2.5-5cm wide, leaf stem 1.5-2.5cm long. Roughly toothed edge. Fresh green shoots appear early. Leaves are dark green above and blue-green below, turning yellow-red in autumn.
Flowers
Flowering period V-VI, richly flowering white corymbs with 5-6 flowers each.
Fruits
Pea-sized pale to purple-pink apple-like fruit, approx. 1cm in diameter; edible, but tasteless.
Bark
Pale grey bark turns brown after peeling; dark orange-brown when young, turns grey-green with deep furrows or peels when old. Branches are grey-brown, brown or grey-green.
Roots
Deep-rooting with extensive lateral roots, intolerant of soil compaction and paving