This is a hawthorn tree that I see every day. The spring flowers are white and pretty, the long thorns appear menacing, and the fruit it produces looks like crabapples. My favorite jelly is made from the fruit of mayhaw varieties of hawthorn. The hawthorn tree is not only beautiful and useful but it has much interesting lore. There is much that can be learned about this tree.
Many believe that the thorny crown Jesus wore at his crucifixion was hawthorn. There is an English tradition that Joseph of Arimathea was Jesus’ uncle, and after Jesus’ crucifixion he brought Mary, mother of Jesus, to Somerset, England. When they arrived at Glastonbury, he stuck his hawthorn walking stick in the ground there. It 
miraculously sprouted, and produced flowers every year in December and in May. There are still cultivars of this tree at this site, but it is thought monks probably made this Christian association with the tree to counter the pagan associations with the tree. On another note, an American legend says that Paul Bunyan used hawthorn branches as a back scratcher. According to Serbian and Croatian folklore, stakes used for slaying vampires must be made from hawthorn wood. It is said that witches ride on brooms of hawthorn.
The ship Mayflower was named after the 
Hawthorn flower, which blooms in May in England. These flowers were considered lucky and were used in spring weddings and secular May Day celebrations. The “May-tree”, as it was often called, was considered sacred to fairies and where it grew with oak and ash trees one could by chance see fairies. Roads have been built in Ireland that go around hawthorn trees, and hawthorn trees are often left standing in fields serving no purpose. Though hawthorn was held in high esteem, it was considered very unlucky to bring its flowers indoors because they smelled of decay. This smell was especially offensive during times of the plague. The fruit of the thorny hawthorn tree 
is often called a “haw”, and this gives the tree its name.
Hawthorn is classified in the Rosaceae family, Crataegus genus. The word Crataegus means “strength” in Greek, and hawthorn’s wood is very hard and resistant to rot. It was used by settlers for tool handles and fence posts. There are approximately 280 different kinds of hawthorn, and most grow as a shrub or tree depending on conditions. It is often hard to tell them apart.
Hawthorns are small to medium trees growing 15 to 50 feet tall, but rarely straight. They prefer full sun and well-drained soil. Trees are hardy, and may live 400 or more years. The bark is typically 
smooth grey or redish-brown, with older trees developing shallow longitudinal fissures with narrow ridges. Sharp, woody thorns stick out of the branches and sometimes also out of the trunk, and may be as long as 4 inches. They may be straight or curved, and tetanus and other infections are possible if one is injured by them. Allergic reactions are possible. Pruning with wire cutters or pruners permits safer contact with the tree. The leaves of most hawthorns have smooth edges with coarsely toothed or lobed ends. Young leaves may be used in salads. Young leaves and flower buds are said to be tasty and are known as “bread and cheese” in rural England. Cooked leaf buds (10 to 20 minutes) have a 
taste similar to lima beans, and may be added to soups or chili. Fall leaf colors are orange, scarlet or purple.
Flowers are typically 5 snow-white petals set around slender stamens with bright pink heads. Some varieties may be pink. Many flowers have an unpleasant smell, which has been compared to decaying meat. The fruit, similar in appearance to a crabapple, is structurally a pome containing 1 to 5 encased seeds that resemble stones of plums and peaches. Fruit on the tree pictured ripened in early October. This fruit, or haw, is edible raw if you spit out the stone pit. Flavor varies depending on variety, from over-ripe apples to very tart. Juice, jam, jelly, desserts, wine and condiments are some uses of the fruit. Fruit, blossoms and leaves are used by many as a natural preventative and remedy for cardiovascular and other problems, and research is being conducted to determine the best varieties of hawthorn to use for what objective.
Mayhaws are early fruiting varieties of hawthorn that are usually found growing in swamps and low-lying areas of southern states. They may grow in more arid areas also. They flower in March, fruit in May, and are rapidly gaining a reputation for the delicious jelly it produces. Until recently, only those who lived in areas familiar with mayhaws enjoyed the jelly. This is because the fruit is small, it is hazardous to gather due to the thorns, and it is usually collected in swamps. Commercial mayhaw orchards are increasingly being planted to meet demand, and mayhaw production is becoming an important agricultural crop. I saw the young tree pictured here at Buds and Blossoms nursery in Dothan, Alabama near local production. In the picture below, Mrs. Ann Mathis stands 
near a 45+ year old mayhaw tree on her property near Dothan, showing mayhaws the tree produced. She said the area is flooded several months of the year, and this year’s crop was very small because of the spring weather. An intersting and informative article on mayhaw production in another area may be found in the article “Couple grows rare berries to stay busy” in the Valdosta Daily Times.
There is more to the hawthorn tree than meets the eye. Not only does the tree add interest to the landscape, but it is being increasingly valued for its useful medical properties and the taste of its delicious fruit. The hawthorn is an interesting tree possessing an interesting history, and the story of this tree is not over.
Below I show an ad for mayhaw jelly. There are variations in flavor and I haven’t tried this brand, but this and similar items are available for purchase here through my participation in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Any purchase through this link helps maintain this website and is appreciated.