Crataegus canbyi

Sarg.

Cock-spur Hawthorn

Rosaceae Edible: Fruit

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Summary

Source: Wikipedia

Crataegus canbyi is a hawthorn that is sometimes considered to be a synonym of C. crus-galli.

Description

A deciduous shrub growing to 5 m tall by 6 m wide at a medium rate, hardy to UK zone 5. Flowers bloom in June with seeds ripening by October. Hermaphrodite and midges-pollinated. Tolerates light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils, including very alkaline conditions. Grows in semi-shade or full sun, handles dry, moist, or wet soil and tolerates drought. Resists strong winds and atmospheric pollution but not maritime exposure.

Edible Uses

The fruit is about 12mm in diameter, borne in small clusters, and has a thick, bright red, juicy flesh. It can be eaten raw or cooked. Up to five fairly large seeds sit in the centre of each fruit and frequently stick together, so the fruit eats much like a cherry with a single stone.

Medicinal Uses

Though no species-specific studies have been noted, the fruits and flowers of hawthorns are widely recognised in herbal folk medicine as a heart tonic, a reputation supported by modern research. They have a hypotensive effect and function as a mild, direct cardiac tonic, especially suited to treating a weak heart alongside high blood pressure. Prolonged use is required for effective results, and the remedy is typically prepared as a tea or tincture.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant.

Where It Grows

North America, USA,

Cultivation

A very easily grown plant, it prefers a well-drained moisture retentive loamy soil but is not at all fussy. Once established, it succeeds in excessively moist soils and also tolerates drought. It grows well on a chalk soil and also in heavy clay soils. A position in full sun is best when plants are being grown for their fruit, they also succeed in semi-shade though fruit yields and quality will be lower in such a position. Most members of this genus succeed in exposed positions, they also tolerate atmospheric pollution. A very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to about -18°c. This species is closely related to C. crus-galli. It hybridizes freely with other members of the genus. Seedling trees take from 5 - 8 years before they start bearing fruit, though grafted trees will often flower heavily in their third year. The flowers have a foetid smell somewhat like decaying fish. This attracts midges which are the main means of fertilization. When freshly open, the flowers have more pleasant scent with balsamic undertones. Seedlings should not be left in a seedbed for more than 2 years without being transplanted.

Propagation

Sow seed fresh in a cold frame in autumn; some will germinate in spring, though most will probably require a further year. Stored seed is slow and erratic — warm stratify for 3 months at 15°C, then cold stratify for 3 months at 4°C, after which germination may still take another 18 months. Scarification before stratification may reduce this time, and fermenting the seed in its pulp for a few days can also help. Another approach is to harvest seed green — once the embryo is fully developed but before the seedcoat hardens — and sow immediately in a cold frame for potential spring germination. For small quantities, pot seedlings individually as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant out in late spring. For larger batches, sow directly into a protected outdoor seedbed and undercut roots if plants are to remain in place for more than two years.

Other Uses

The wood is fine-grained, tough, hard, and heavy, and is used for tool handles and similar applications. The plant is also suitable for espalier training and is noted for its scent.