Hawthorn (May, Quickthorn, Whitethorn), Crataegus monogynaThe Midland hawthorn C. laevigata grows in broadleaved woodlands of central and south eastern England. Sources of seed and plants Native through all of England, lowland Wales, Ireland and Southern Scotland it has been widely planted elsewhere in Britain. Grows together with ash, dogwood, elder, Field maple, hazel, holly, elm and Pedunculate oak in hedgerows. Seed should be collected from well-grown bushes in old hedgerows, which have not been clipped for several years so that the habit of the bushes can be judged. Silviculture A light-demanding, pioneer species, it does not withstand heavy shade, soon becoming drawn and leggy. Soil types Is found on all but the poorest acid soils. It colonises open chalk downland, grows well on clay soils and tolerates dry soils over sand and gravels. Rate of growth and yield Grows rapidly when young and, if uncut, will attain 15 metres in height. Hawthorn is long-lived and can attain stem diameters of 15 cms. The variation in habit, thorniness and fruitfulness is great. Protection and resistance Fire blight caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora causes dieback. Hawthorn withstands severe cold in open windy places, including exposure to salt winds so is a useful windward margin for shelterbelts. It tolerates atmospheric pollution and can be planted in towns and industrial areas. Because it withstands clipping at almost any time of year and layering, it is the most widely-used hedging shrub. Establishing and tending All common sizes of nursery stock establish well but on very severe sites young container-grown plants should be used. Hawthorn fruits regularly and coppices strongly. Timber properties A diffuse-porous wood, yellowish grey in colour with a tinge of red. The grain usually is straight and the texture fine and even. Hawthorn is only available in small sizes. Heavy in weight (average 650 kg/m3 seasoned), it is hard and strong. It dries slowly and can be used for turning. Hawthorn has also been used for engraving and is as good as European boxwood for this purpose. Amenity value When uncut, hawthorn is an attractive shrub with sweet scented blossom and rounded crown of dense branches gracefully pendulous at the ends. Conservation The flowers provide food for many insects, including beetles and hoverflies. The berries are eaten by many birds during autumn and winter. Timber value Not available in sufficient quantity or large sizes. Economic appraisal Not a timber tree but deservedly popular as a hedging plant and an important constituent of shelterbelts. Its tolerance of a wide range of soils and site conditions enables it to hold its place, but it would repay selection for habit of growth, fruit characters and resistance to salt bearing winds. |
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