WILD FOODIES' HOME PAGE
PLANT PROFILE LIST
NAME: Hawthorn
SPECIES / FAMILY: Crataegus Monogyna / Rosaceae (many other species)
OTHER COMMON NAME(S):
CONDITIONS: sun-partial shade
PARTS:
EDIBLE
TASTE
RAW/COOK
SEASON
All
Shoots
Leaves
DRY4TEA
Spring-Summer
Stalk/Stem
Buds
Flowers
Fruits
sweet/sour
RAW/DRY/COOK
Aug-Jan
Pods
Seeds
Nuts
Roots
Bark
PORTION: medium
COMMENT: There are many different species, colors, and sizes of Hawthorns. Not all Hawthorns have thorns, but all of the fruit has a crown. Fruit used to make jelly, fruit leather/roll-up, or as pectin for other fruit jams. // Can be made into a sauce for cooking, or used to flavor alcohols, just ripe berries have more pectin than over-ripe berries.(2) Fruit - is normally used for making jams and preserves. The fruit can be dried, ground, mixed with flour and used for making bread etc. A tea is made from the dried leaves, it is a china tea substitute.(1)
CAUTION: Do not eat seeds. If an adult mistakenly eats one or two seeds they aren’t deadly but they could be to a child. Very young spring leaves — called Bread and Cheese — can be a trail side nibble as well as the flower buds or young flowers. Mature flowers should be avoided or any part that smells like almonds when crushed.(2)
NUTRITION/MEDICINAL: Antispasmodic; Astringent; Cardiotonic; Diuretic; Hypotensive; Sedative; Tonic; Vasodilator.(1)
LOOK-A-LIKES:
POISONOUS LOOK-A-LIKES:
OTHER USES: Wood - very hard and tough, difficult to work. Used for tool handles etc. Valued in turning. A good fuel, giving out a lot of heat.(1)
SOURCE LINKS (may include nutritional and medicinal info, plus other uses):
- https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Crataegus+monogyna
- http://www.eattheweeds.com/?s=hawthorn
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crataegus_monogyna
- http://www.ediblewildfood.com/common-hawthorn.aspx (good photos)
- https://ouroneacrefarm.com/hawthorn-berries-identify-harvest-make-extract (good photos)
- https://www.eatweeds.co.uk/hawthorn-crataegus-monogyna (recipes)
- https://jpwaldron.wordpress.com/2011/12/11/haws-by-any-other-name-theyd-still-be-as-fine (recipes)
- https://wildcrafty.wordpress.com/2010/03/19/what-can-i-do-with-hawthorn-berries (recipes)
- https://www.greatbritishchefs.com/recipes/hawthorn-berry-recipes-foraging (recipes)