Common hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)
Care, watering, light and tips for Common hawthorn on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Rosaceae
- Difficulty: Easy to care for
- Watering: every 3 days
- Light: Full sun
- Temperature: 0–30 °C
- Toxicity: Toxic to pets
About Common hawthorn
Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) is a deciduous shrub or small tree belonging to the Rosaceae family, highly prized for its spring bloom of white flowers and its autumn red berries. It's a robust and versatile plant, ideal for hedges, natural barriers, or as a standalone specimen in both rural and urban gardens due to its seasonal appeal and hardiness. Its thorny branches and dense foliage make it an excellent refuge and food source for wildlife.
Native range
Europe, Northwest Africa and temperate Asia
Care tips
Hawthorn thrives in full sun for optimal flowering and fruiting, though it tolerates some partial shade. It's highly adaptable regarding soil, flourishing in well-drained soils, even calcareous or poor ones, without requiring excessive watering once established. Avoid waterlogging, as it's prone to fungal diseases in very wet soils. A common mistake is planting it in confined spaces, as it can grow quite large and its thorns can be a drawback.
How to save a dying Common hawthorn
- Warning signs
- Yellowish or spotted leaves, premature leaf drop, dry branches or sparse flowering.
- First aid
- Check drainage, water if soil is dry, prune dead branches, protect from pests.
- What kills it
- Prolonged waterlogging (rots roots) or extreme drought in its early stages.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, if roots are not completely rotted and live tissue remains on the trunk.