English Hawthorn – 5 Seeds

English Hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata) is a large shrub or small tree growing to 8 m in height, with a dense crown. The tree is very ornamental and has a long history of medicinal use. The leaves are 2–6 cm long and 2–5 cm broad, with two or three shallow, forward-pointing lobes on each side of the leaf.

The flowers are usually white, but can be pink. Flowers are up to 2.4 cm in diameter, with 2–3 styles and stigmas and more than 20 stamens. They have 5 triangular sepals, which are obtuse. The petals can be slightly velvety on the inside. They are pollinated by insects. The fruit is a dark red pome 6–10 mm in diameter, slightly broader than long.

Common Names: Midland hawthorn, English hawthorn, Woodland hawthorn and Mayflower.

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Medicinal Benefits.

• Hawthorn is widely used in the treatment of congestive heart failure, angina, cerebral insufficiency, and bradyarrhythmia.

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Growing English Hawthorn

Indoor Sowing: Cold Stratification and then sow in Spring.

Direct Sowing: Autumn.

• Scarify the seed coat and then combine the seeds with moist sand or vermiculite and place it in a small pot.
• Place the pot in a warm location with temperatures of 20∼30°C for at least 4 – 5 months.
• Keep the soil moist, but not wet.
• Afterwards, place the seeds with the moist medium in a sealed plastic bag and refrigerate for 3 months.
• Then take the seeds out of the refrigerator and surface sow the seeds a well-draining seed starting mix, or a mix of compost and sand.
• Barely cover with soil, as the seeds need some light to germinate.
• Place the container in a bright, warm spot.
• Keep soil consistently moist, but not wet.
• For direct sowing, scarify the seed coat and then sow the seeds in small pot in well-draining seed starting mix, or a mix of compost and sand.
• Barely cover the seed with soil and put the pot in a cool, damp spot.
• Keep the soil consistently moist.
• Germination takes about 12 – 18 months, so a lot of patience is required!