No images found for this plant ID: 12568.
Ensure images are uploaded to the Media Library and tagged with "12568" in the "plant_image_tag" taxonomy.
hawthorn
Scientific Name: Crataegus paludosa
Family: Rosaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth:
Duration:
Other Names:
Common Hawthorn (Crataegus species)
The term "hawthorn" encompasses a variety of species within the Crataegus genus, with "Common Hawthorn" referring specifically to a deciduous tree that is native to the UK and across Europe.
Considerations for Pets
- Mature hawthorn trees are characterized by their dense, thorny habit.
Considerations for Children
- Mature hawthorn trees are characterized by their dense, thorny habit.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Genus: Crataegus
Distribution and Habitat
- Native to the UK and across Europe.
- Common throughout the UK, often found as a hedgerow shrub.
Morphological Characteristics
- Mature trees can reach a height of 15m.
- Characterized by a dense, thorny habit.
- Can grow as a small tree with a single stem.
- In May, the hedgerows burst into life as Common Hawthorn erupts with masses of creamy-white blossom.
Ecological Role
- Provides food for more than 150 different insect species.
- The thorny stems of hawthorn make it an ideal boundary hedge that will help keep unwelcome visitors out of the garden.
Historical and Traditional Uses
- Hawthorn (Crataegus species) has been used to treat heart disease as far back as the 1st century.
- By the early 1800s, American doctors were using it for medicinal purposes.