Crataegus durobrivensis
Sarg.
Caughuawaga Hawthorn
wikimedia· cc-by-sa
Wikimedia Commons - Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz
wikimedia· cc-by-sa
Wikimedia Commons - Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz
Summary
A deciduous shrub growing 5m tall and wide with hermaphroditic flowers pollinated by midges. Hardy to UK zone 5. Tolerates sandy, loamy, and heavy clay soils including very alkaline conditions. Grows in semi-shade or full sun, prefers moist or wet soil but tolerates drought. Handles strong winds and atmospheric pollution but not coastal exposure.
Description
A spiny shrub. It grows 6 m high. The leaves are dark and papery. They are oval and have sharp teeth. The flowers are white. They are in small clusters. The fruit are crimson.
Edible Uses
The fruit is a reasonable size, reaching up to 15mm in diameter, and is well suited to raw eating — sweet and fairly juicy when fully ripe, with a hint of apple in the flavour. It can also be cooked in pies and preserves, or dried for later use. Up to five fairly large seeds occupy the centre of each fruit and often stick together, giving the impression of a cherry-like fruit with a single stone.
Medicinal Uses
Although no specific research has been recorded for this species, the fruits and flowers of hawthorns broadly are well established in herbal folk medicine as a heart tonic, a use backed by modern research. Both parts produce a hypotensive effect and act as a gentle, direct cardiotonic, making them especially suited to treating weak heart combined with high blood pressure. Prolonged use is needed for the treatment to be effective, and it is generally taken as a tea or tincture.
Distribution
Temperate. It will grow in most soils. It is resistant to frost and drought. It suits hardiness zones 5-9.
Where It Grows
Australia, 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. Hybridizes freely with other members of this 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. Probably a natural hybrid, C. pruinosa x C. suborbiculata.
Propagation
Sow seed as soon as it is ripe in autumn in a cold frame; some will germinate the following spring, though most will likely take 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, and germination may still take another 18 months. Scarifying before stratification may help, as may fermenting the seed in its own pulp for a few days. Another option is to harvest seed green — once the embryo is fully developed but before the seedcoat hardens — and sow immediately in a cold frame for possible spring germination. For small quantities, pot seedlings individually once large enough to handle, grow on for a year, then plant out in late spring to nursery beds or final positions. For larger quantities, sow direct into an outdoor seedbed with protection from mice and other seed-eaters, and undercut roots if plants will remain in the seedbed for more than two years.
Other Uses
The wood is heavy, hard, tough, and close-grained, making it suitable for tool handles, mallets, and other small items.
Notes
There are 200 or more Crataegus species.
Synonyms
References (4)
- Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 295
- Etherington, K., & Imwold, D., (Eds), 2001, Botanica's Trees & Shrubs. The illustrated A-Z of over 8500 trees and shrubs. Random House, Australia. p 239
- Lord, E.E., & Willis, J.H., 1999, Shrubs and Trees for Australian gardens. Lothian. p 52
- Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
