Native Trees of the Village of Euxton

The Hawthorn

Hawthorn - Crataegus monygna.  It is also known as May, Whitethorn and Irish Sceach geal.  It is of the family - Rosaceae, and related in species to the Midland Thorn.

It is a deciduous tree, that is dense leaved and thorny with short trunk. It is commonly used for stock proof hedging. Its new shoots and leaves are reddish and it has a very distinctive white blossom with strong scent and is usually heavy with red berries (haws) later. The haws are attractive to birds and the species is spread in this way.

It has a height of up to about 15m and is long lived,
even up to 250 years.

It is found on all soil types and its natural prickly form protects seedlings of other broadleaved trees particularly the oak from preditors and can hence aid the natural regeneration of woodlands.

Its natural native distribution is throughout British Isles, and Europe, up to an altitude of about 500m.

It is readily propagation and grown from its seed which are deeply dormant and is also grown from cuttings. It grows rapidly for first 15 years. Laying hawthorn hedges to make them stock-proof is an old country skill, widely used.

Its timber is a streaky white or a pale pinkish, it is a tough, hard and heavy wood. Its uses include, walking sticks, tool handles, engraving and all turnery. It has very good value as a firewood.


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