Crataegus pennsylvanica
Ashe
Pennsylvania Hawthorn
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Summary
Source: WikipediaDeciduous tree growing to 9m tall at medium rate. Hardy to UK zone 5. Flowers in May with seeds ripening September to October. Hermaphrodite flowers pollinated by midges. Adapts to light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils, including very alkaline conditions. Grows in semi-shade or full sun, prefers moist or wet soil but drought-tolerant. Withstands strong winds and atmospheric pollution but not maritime exposure.
Description
It is a medium sized tree. It grows 6 m high and spreads 5 m wide. The fruit are 2.5 cm across.
This description is brief — help expand it
Edible Uses
Fruit eaten raw or cooked. Produces exceptionally large fruit up to 25mm diameter with lovely semi-sweet flavor, remaining palatable even when semi-ripe. Excellent as dessert fruit. Also made into jellies or dried for later use. Fruit borne in easily harvested clusters of 4-12. Contains up to five large seeds that typically stick together, giving a cherry-like eating quality.
Traditional Uses
Fruit can be eaten fresh or cooked
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Medicinal Uses
Fruits and flowers function as a heart tonic with hypotensive and mild cardiac tonic properties. Especially beneficial for weak heart combined with high blood pressure. Used traditionally as tea or tincture. Prolonged use necessary for effectiveness.
Distribution
Temperate. It can grow in a range of soil types and with various pH values. It can tolerate very wet soils as well as tolerate drought. Plants are cold hardy.
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. This species has a good potential as a fruit crop in Britain. It regularly produces heavy crops of high quality, the tree is very easily grown and is little troubled by pests or diseases. It also requires very little attention, once the trees are established virtually the only work needed is to harvest the fruit each year. A tree about 5 metres tall and wide at Kew fruits regularly and very heavily. 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.
Propagation
Sow seed fresh in autumn in cold frame; some germinate in spring, most take another year. Stored seed germinates slowly and erratically. Warm stratify 3 months at 15°C, then cold stratify 3 months at 4°C; may still require 18 months. Scarifying or fermenting seed in pulp may accelerate germination. Alternatively, harvest green seed (embryo fully developed, coat unhardened) and sow immediately in cold frame for spring germination. Pot seedlings individually for first year, plant out late spring. For larger quantities, sow in outdoor seedbed with rodent protection; undercut roots if leaving undisturbed beyond two years.
Other Uses
Wood is heavy, hard, tough, and close-grained. Suitable for tool handles, mallets, and small items.
Notes
There are 200 or more Crataegus species.
References (3)
- Ann. Carnegie Mus. 1:394. 1902
- Lyle, S., 2006, Discovering fruit and nuts. Land Links. p 164
- Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
