Hawthorn

Crateagus monogyna

Status

Native.

Distribution

Widespread.

Habitats

Hedgerows, woodland, scrub, road verges, railway banks, waste ground.

Requirements

Will grow on most soils. Tolerates exposure.

Recommendations

A small fast growing thorny tree bearing flowers and fruit.  Suitable for general planting as a woodland under storey & fringe species, and as the major component of most hedgerows. A pioneer species on difficult or exposed sites.

Origins/provenance

Hawthorn has been very widely planted as a hedgerow shrub although there area also wild populations in semi-natural woodlands. Use plants of northern & easterly UK provenance. Flowering times of regional genotypes may have significance for invertebrates: avoid European sources.