UK Hawthorns

[htcdude]

Is it only Common Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) that we have in the UK?

Thanks,

Nige

[Johnny81]

Nope midland hawthorn and hybrids

[The Woodman]

Nige

We have numerous species, hybrids, cultivars and varieties in the UK.

I have just posted images of two in the Gallery, Pear fruited cockspur thorn and Midland hawthorn.

Others are

Oriental Hawthorn C.laciniata
Various leaved Hawthorn C.heterophylla
Azarole C. azarollus
Cockspurthorn C. crus-galli
Broad leaved Cockspurthorn C. persimilis
Hybrid Cockspurthorn C. x lavallei (Lavallees Thorn)
Hairy Cockspurthorn C. pedicellata
Plum leaved Thorn C. prunifolia
Red Haw C. mollis
Scarlet Thorn C. mollis
Washington Thorn C. phaenopyrum
C. macracantha
Mexican Thorn C. mexicana (C.pubescens)

Bit of a mine field and some ID's are difficult and beware of recent name changes i.e in older guides Midland Thorn is C.oxyacanthoides

Some fascinating folk lore and history with some of these species. The more you investigate, the more you find!

[Dorts]

Over 20 species of Hawthorn are to be found planted or bird-sown in Britain, including the ubiquitous 'Quickthorn', often from non-native stock, but planted throughout the country by farmers and local authorities as hedging.
Dorts.

[Johnny81]

Originally Posted by The Woodman

Nige

We have numerous species, hybrids, cultivars and varieties in the UK.

I have just posted images of two in the Gallery, Pear fruited cockspur thorn and Midland hawthorn.

Others are

Oriental Hawthorn C.laciniata
Various leaved Hawthorn C.heterophylla
Azarole C. azarollus
Cockspurthorn C. crus-galli
Broad leaved Cockspurthorn C. persimilis
Hybrid Cockspurthorn C. x lavallei (Lavallees Thorn)
Hairy Cockspurthorn C. pedicellata
Plum leaved Thorn C. prunifolia
Red Haw C. mollis
Scarlet Thorn C. mollis
Washington Thorn C. phaenopyrum
C. macracantha
Mexican Thorn C. mexicana (C.pubescens)

Bit of a mine field and some ID's are difficult and beware of recent name changes i.e in older guides Midland Thorn is C.oxyacanthoides

Some fascinating folk lore and history with some of these species. The more you investigate, the more you find!

A Great list - thanks Woodman - not that I 'm going to try and find and identify each one though

[The Woodman]

I have a soft spot for the thorns and could devote a lot of time to them, a Crataegus laevigata Paul's Scarlet grows in my back garden and is a joy in the spring with it's short lived double blossom.

I've also noticed that named species can look subtly different.

A trip to an arboretum can be most rewarding.

[Johnny81]

I've spent half an hour on one hawthorn shrub that had leaves like both common and midland hawthorn... I just walked away and said mehh hybrid...

[The Woodman]

Only half an hour??

[ashgale]

Originally Posted by The Woodman

I have a soft spot for the thorns and could devote a lot of time to them, a Crataegus laevigata Paul's Scarlet grows in my back garden and is a joy in the spring with it's short lived double blossom.

I've also noticed that named species can look subtly different.

A trip to an arboretum can be most rewarding.

we have a Pauls Scarlet growing as a specimen tree, on which the flowers are even shorter lived than usual,
this is down to our permanent "gang" of six woodpigeons, who devour the flowers with gusto !,
even though there is a full hedgerow of the white variety less than 50ft away, which they never even bother with
and there is always a supply of seed available to them in the garden, so its not a case of them just being hungry, its more like selective feeding on their part,

ive given up on trying to deter the woodies from stripping the blossoms, as they always leave us few to enjoy (while they last)
and the remaining flowers never seem to produce many (if any) berries,

ashgale

[htcdude]

Wow thanks guys, didn't realise there were so many! I'll have to try and find a good book with them all in

Nige