Hawthorn trees

Hawthorns form the genus Crataegus, and are a diverse range of hardy trees, adaptable to many situations - including urban and coastal planting. All have excellent spring blossom displays, and most have attractive autumn fruitlet colours.

Many hawthorns provide a useful food resource for wildlife, and a small number have edible fruitlets which can be used for fruit jellies.

If you have rabbits in the vicinity be sure to protect the trees, as rabbits like to eat young hawthorn bark.

If planting 1-year bare-root hawthorns, cut the main stem at about 1.5m - 1.75m to stimulate side shoots the following year. Pot-grown trees have already had this formative training at the nursery and do not need pruning.

  • An attractive hawthorn, with large red fruits, and usually thornless.

    • Fruit colour: Red
    • Height 10 years: 2.5m-3.5m / 8ft-12ft
    • Flowering month: May

  • Crimson Cloud has dark red flowers with white centres.

    • Fruit colour: Red
    • Flower colour: Red - dark
    • Height 10 years: 2.5m-3.5m / 8ft-12ft
    • Flowering month: May

  • Jubilee features dense white flowers in spring and red berries in the autumn.

    • Height 10 years: 3m-5m / 10ft-16ft
  • Best seller

    A popular small hawthorn with distinctive dark pink blossom with white centres.

    • Fruit colour: Red
    • Flower colour: Pink - dark
    • Height 10 years: 2.5m-3.5m / 8ft-12ft
    • Flowering month: May

  • A compact hawthorn which features double white flowers.

    • Flower colour: White
    • Height 10 years: 1.5m-2.5m / 5ft-8ft
    • Flowering month: May

  • Prunifolia Splendens is one of the best hawthorns for autumn colour and persistent red fruits.

    • Fruit colour: Orange / Red
    • Height 10 years: 3m-5m / 10ft-16ft
    • Flowering month: May
  • Best seller

    A popular ornamental hawthorn, featuring pink double flowers with cream centres.

    • Flower colour: Pink
    • Height 10 years: 2.5m-3.5m / 8ft-12ft
    • Flowering month: May