Species

Hawthorn is a deciduous plant from the Rose family.  Its botanical name is Crataegus oxyacantha and it can grow up to 30 feet (9 metres) tall.

The word 'Haw' means 'hedge.

There are approximately 1000 species of hawthorn across the world but only 2 main species in Britain.  These are English hawthorn and Common hawthorn and can be differentiated in several ways.  One way to tell is by looking at the colour of their leaves in Autumn.  Common Hawthorn has brightly coloured leaves of red, orange and yellow, whereas the English hawthorn leaves do not have much colour.  Another way is by the blossom.  Common hawthorn has white blossom, whereas the English hawthorn has pink or red blossom or white with pink tips.  The third way to differentiate between the two species is by the number of seeds in each berry.  Common hawthorn has only one single seed in each berry.  English hawthorn as two or three in each berry.

Wood properties and uses

Hawthorn is a hardwearing wood that burns readily.  It is the hottest firewood for oven heating and is good for making charcoal.  The root wood has a very fine grain and was used to make combs and small boxes for ladies in the past.  The bark was used in Scotland as a dye for wool, turning the wool black.  The leaves can be used to make a tea and the flowers can be added to syrups or can be used to make into wine.  The berries can also be made into wine, jellies or chutneys.

Modern Science understanding

The chemical components of hawthorn are known to be sedative, antispasmodic and diuretic.  These properties make the plant a regulator of arterial blood pressure.  The plant is non-toxic and does not accumulate in the body.  The homeopathic name for hawthorn is 'oxyacantha'.

Tradition, history and belief

Hawthorn was used at Pagan weddings to decorate the married couple and their bedchamber, and was included in the food and drink and burned as incense at the wedding celebrations.  It was thought to bring blessings of fertility to the marriage and many weddings happened at Beltane when the new leaves and blossoms were out on the hawthorn tree.

The flowers were also used as a remedy for spots and acne.  This is reflected in the following rhyme.

The fair maid who the first of May,

goes to the field at the break of day,

and washes in the dew from the hawthorn tree,

will ever after handsome be.

The Christian King, Henry VII used hawthorn on the badge of the house of Tudor, as the crown of England was taken from Richard II at the Battle of Bosworth Field and was hidden in a hawthorn bush.

The poet Chaucer wrote about the hawthorn tree:

Mark the fair blooming of the hawthorn tree

who, finely clothed in a robe of white

fills full the wanton eye with May's delight.

Hawthorn Goddesses

Olwen, Blodeuwedd, Cardea (Italian), Flora (Roman), Hera and Hymen.