growing and care


Though Hawthorns carry dark stories and prompt many superstitions within many people due to their fae connections, Hawthorns are very easy to grow from cuttings any time of the year. For many people they are also very safe.

preferred soil conditions?

Easier to grow from cuttings any time of the year rather than seed.

Prefers slightly acidic well-drained soil, but can tolerate slightly alkaline soil.

preferred light, shade and water conditions?

Likes full sun best but does grow ok with shade but needs some good light each day.

Can put up with varied watering conditions such as longish dry spells and very wet spells.

budding

New Buds can start t forming in November and get larger quickly through February, March and April with leaves coming out of the buds end of April or early May.

blossoming

The beautiful fragrant white flowers of Hawthorn usually bloom at the start of May,

The Glastonbury and Iona thorns and other hawthorns at monastic sites are legendary for flowering at Winter Solstice.

coppicing?

Hawthorn for coppicing is a wonderful fuel addition to Willows grown for fuel.

The ancient tradition was to hedge with Hawthorn and let the shoots grow for latter coppicing. For logs, Hawthorn can be coppiced every 5 years, like the Willow, though the logs are likely to be narrower. As a burning fuel Hawthorn is perhaps a bit better than Willowm especially as it can also burn well green so drying is not essential, though drying does create a better fuel.

What is essential is to sustain the old tradition of Hawthorn hedges, and to let them grow their shoots for later coppicing.

Some folks coppice from hedges every 3 years and tie the branches together as faggots for fuel burning.

fruit and seeds

Red berries are reading for harvesting from September onwards.



for the healing and nourishment qualities of Hawthorn, please click here