Hawthorn, May tree, whitethorn, quickthorn.

Family: Rosaceae 

Origin: Native 

Tree type: Deciduous broadleaf tree

How it looks

Shape, bark, twigs 

The hawthorn tree can grow as a single-stemmed tree reaching a height of 15m. However, it is most often seen in hedges, where regular cutting encourages them to become dense and shrublike. The twigs are covered in thorns, and the bark is a brown-grey colour. Young trees tend to have smooth bark, but as they get older, long, narrow cracks or openings start to appear. 

Buds 

Hawthorn buds are arranged alternately along the stem and point away from the twig. These buds are deep red in colour, hairless, and measure between 2 to 5mm in size. 

Thorns  

There are two types of thorns on hawthorn trees. Some thorns are found along the stem at the bud joints, while others appear at the end of the stem. These thorns are approximately half the length of those on the Blackthorn tree. It's important to note that thorns on hawthorns do not have buds on them, unlike Blackthorn, where most thorns bear buds. 

Leaves 

Hawthorn leaves appear in March and April, arranged alternately on the stems. They are about 6cm in length, shiny dark green and characterised by their three to five deep lobes with slightly toothed edges. In autumn, the leaves turn yellow and fall.  

Flowers 

Around mid-May, hawthorn trees come alive with clusters of beautiful white flowers. These trees are hermaphrodites, meaning both male and female reproductive parts are present in each flower. The flowers have five broad, overlapping petals, which occasionally display a pink blush. Each flower measures about 12mm and has typically pink anthers. 

Fruits 

Once pollinated by insects, the flowers transform into fleshy fruits called haws. These haws appear on the tree in July and August, gradually ripening to a deep red in autumn and early winter. The tree relies on birds to disperse its seeds. 

Similar species 

Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa). The blackthorn flowers appear before the leaves, and the spines have buds along their length, while the hawthorn flowers emerge from the same point as the buds. The leaves are totally different. 

Where to find it

Hawthorn is a widespread species found throughout Ireland, commonly thriving in hedgerows, woodlands, and scrubland. It shows a preference for acidic and moist soils, although it can adapt to various soil types. Optimal flowering and fruiting occur when the tree enjoys full sun exposure. Hawthorn is not exclusive to Ireland; it is native to Europe, North Africa, and West Asia. 

In the 1800s, hawthorn was introduced to North America and Australasia. Over time, it has become naturalised, and more recently, in some areas, it has been identified as an environmental weed. This is particularly notable on the Pacific coast of North America, as well as in parts of Australia and New Zealand. 

Cultural importance

History | Myth | Literature

History 

The Gaeilic word for hawthorn, Sceach geal, means ‘bright thorn’, while as Peter Wyse Jackson reveals, the taxonomic name for hawthorn, Crataegus, derives from the Greek word ‘kratos’ which translates as ‘strength, and ‘akis’ which means ‘sharp’. He further explains that the name ‘haw’, comes from the Old English word for hedge which ultimately derives from the Anglo-Saxon word haguthorn, meaning ‘a fence with thorns’. 

Evidence from archaeological sites throughout Ireland indicates that hawthorn, also known as whitethorn, was widely used as firewood from at least the early Bronze Age (c. 2500-800 BC) if not earlier. Charcoal from a number of different trees, including hawthorn, was found along with fragments of pottery and stone tools at a site in Dunboyne, County Meath in what was likely a refuse pit dating approximately to c. 2576-2341 BC. Fruits and seeds of the hawthorn were also found during archaeological excavations near Charlestown, County Mayo and Kildimo, County Limerick in what are commonly known as fulachta fiadh or burnt mounds, which are thought to be Bronze Age cooking sites. Thus, it is possible that haw fruit formed part of the Bronze Age diet 

In early Medieval Ireland, the hawthorn was designated as one of the ‘Commoners of the Wood’. Fergus Kelly reveals that this category of trees was so important in early Irish society that they were protected by the following law:  

The penalty-fine for damage to any of these trees is a milch cow. In addition, the culprit must pay compensation. There is some inconsistency in the different versions, but it seems likely that the original text required the payment of another milch cow as compensation for base-cutting, a yearling heifer for fork-cutting, and a sheep for branch-cutting. If the tree is completely extirpated (aurbe), a payment of two milch cows and a three-year-old heifer is due. 

Legal texts from the twelfth century describe the fruit of the hawthorn as a valuable food source, especially during times of scarcity. This may be part of the reason why the tree was included as one of the Commoners of the Wood. In addition, haw seeds were discovered in archaeological excavations of Viking settlements in Dublin and later Medieval urban sites in Ireland, suggesting that they also formed part of people’s diets during these periods. However, it has been proposed that as haws were particularly sour tasting, they would only have been eaten as a last resort.  

Hawthorn also features in the early Irish ogham alphabet, where it is associated with the word hUath, meaning ‘fear’, and represents the letter or character ‘H’: 

It is not impossible that this meaning may have some connection with the superstition surrounding the destruction of fairy trees. 

Hawthorn hedges are a common feature of the Irish landscape. This tradition of hedge laying seems to have begun in the mid-seventeenth century in the Pale, the area around Dublin under direct English rule. It then spread to other parts of Ireland from the mid eighteenth century onwards, possibly as a result of the agricultural revolution and greater moves toward land intensification. Hawthorn is of particular value for hedge laying as its thorns and strong branches make it a ‘stock-proof’ tree i.e., it keeps cattle and sheep securely penned in. 

The Irish name for hawthorn, ‘Sceach’, appears in many placenames throughout Ireland, such as Skeagh or An Sceach, which is found in Counties Cavan, Cork, Donegal and Dublin and translates as ‘the hawthorn’. Similarly, the name Ballinaskeagh or Baile na Sceach in County Down means ‘townland of the hawthorns’. The area of Beggar’s Bush in Dublin is also thought to take its name from an ancient hawthorn tree that provided shelter to beggars. 

Myth, Legend and Folklore 

Traditionally, the Hawthorn is associated with magic, the fairy realm, bad luck, protection, fertility and in some instances, healing.  

Hawthorn is perhaps best known as a fairy tree, and there are many stories of people coming to harm for cutting down or damaging any aspect of the tree, especially one standing alone in a field. In 1999, the Irish seanchaí or storyteller Eddie Lenihan protested against the destruction of a lone hawthorn tree which lay in the path of the proposed Newmarket-on-Fergus bypass, warning that if it was cut down bad luck and even death could befall those that travelled on the new road. The storyteller’s protest was successful, and the new route was built in such a way that it incorporated the tree without harming it. 

It was generally held that it was bad luck to bring any part of the hawthorn into the house. Likewise, if one was to hit someone or drive cows with a branch of hawthorn, it was also thought to cause misfortune or death. However, Hawthorn was also believed to have protective qualities and was often planted around houses to ward off witches. Similarly positive is the hawthorn’s association with fertility. This is especially evident in its central role in the May time celebrations in Ireland and further afield, where a tree, usually a hawthorn, was cut down, decorated with flowers, candles and ribbons, paraded around the neighbourhood and sometimes burnt in a bonfire. 

Hawthorn can often be found near holy wells, many of which were believed to have healing properties. As a result, it was customary for pilgrims who visited the well to tie offerings, often in the form of rags, to the nearby hawthorn. In this sense, the tree has a connection with healing. 

Hawthorn also features in the Irish myths in its connection with the practice of satirising kings. With their backs to a hawthorn on a particular king’s land, poets would sing satirical verses about the king. If they were correct in their negative judgement of the king, the land would swallow him up, but if they were wrong, it would swallow the poets. There is an example of this in the story, Cath Maigue Tuiread, or the Battle of Moytirra. 

Literature

The hawthorn also has its place in literature. Indeed, it may have been one of William Shakespeare’s favourite trees as he refers to it in no less than five of his plays: King Lear, The Merry Wives of Windsor, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Henry IV and As You Like It. In her poem, White Hawthorn in the West of Ireland, Eavan Boland describes how she restrains her desire to fill her arms with hawthorn flowers on account of the misfortune it would bring. More recently, the supernatural associations of the hawthorn are highlighted in J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter stories where the character Draco Malfoy has a wand made of Hawthorn. 

Value to wildlife

This tree supports many other species, with every part utilised by wildlife. In May, hawthorns erupt with creamy-white blossoms, providing nectar and pollen for bees and other pollinators. 

Its leaves are the food plant for caterpillars of several moths, including the beautiful light emerald Campaea margaritata. Its dense, thorny foliage makes an excellent bird nesting habitat and offers a refuge for invertebrate and small mammal species. 

The red fruits known as 'haws' arrive in autumn and winter. These haws are rich in antioxidants and are eaten by small mammals and birds, such as yellow hammers, thrushes, and waxwings, which disperse the seeds in their droppings. 

Threats

In June 2022, there was an outbreak in Dublin of the bacterial disease fireblight. Fireblight is a highly contagious plant disease caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora, which is potentially a notable danger to the health of hawthorn trees. Although all trees infected were removed, there is still the possibility of it reemerging. 

To learn more about threats to Irish trees, visit ‘Threats to Trees.’  

Uses

Hawthorn possesses a versatile range of uses, making it a valuable resource. The creamy-brown hawthorn timber, known for its fine grain and exceptional hardness, finds applications in turnery, engraving, veneers, cabinet making, crafting boxes, tool handles, and boat parts.  

Hawthorn wood is also suitable for firewood and charcoal production, gaining a reputation for burning at high temperatures. 

The berries, known as haws, have been utilised for centuries to create an array of products, including jellies, jams, wines, and liquors. In traditional herbal medicine, the infusions of dried fruit are said to have a beneficial long-term effect on heart health and have been employed to treat heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and certain skin conditions. The young leaves, flower buds, and early flowers are all edible and can be incorporated into various salads.  

Hawthorn has a long history of being used as a hedging plant and remains a popular choice in wildlife gardens.

References

• Deegan, G. 1999. Fairy bush survives the motorway planners, The Irish Times, 29 May 1999. Fairy bush survives the motorway planners – The Irish Times 
• Doleschal, M. 2021. Shakespeare's Favourite Plants: The Hawthorn, The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust Website, 05 August 2021: Shakespeare's Favourite Plants: The Hawthorn 
• Geraghty, Siobhán. 1996. Viking Dublin: Botanical Evidence from Fishamble Street. National Museum of Ireland, Medieval Dublin Excavations 1962–81, Ser. C, Vol 2. Royal Irish Academy, Dublin. 
• Jackson, P.S.W. 2022. Hawthorn in Ireland: A rich heritage of folklore, fact and fantasy. In Wall, J. (Ed.). The Cultural Value of Trees: Folk Value and Biocultural Conservation (1st ed.), pp. 119-133. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429320897 
• Kelly, F. 2013. Trees in Early Ireland, Augustine Henry Memorial Lecture 11th March 1999, Irish forestry: Journal of the Society of Irish Foresters, 56, pp. 39-57. 
• Susan Lyons. 2015. Food plants, fruits and foreign foodstuffs: the archaeological evidence from urban medieval Ireland. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy: Archaeology, Culture, History, Literature, 115C, 111–166. https://doi.org/10.3318/priac.2015.115.11 
• MacCoitir, N. 2015. Ireland’s Trees: Myths, Legends and Folklore. Cork: The Collins Press. 
• McLoughlin, J. 2016. Trees and woodland names in Irish placenames, Irish Forestry, 73, 239-257. 
• McMahon, P. 2023. Island of Woods: How Ireland Lost Its Forests and How to Get Them Back, Dublin: New Island Books. 
• McGarry, Marion. 2020. Galway Mayo Institute of Technology – Death, Sex, Superstition and Fear: The Hawthorn Tree in Ireland, RTÉ Brainstorm. RTE.IE/brainstorm/2020/0506/1136776-hawthorn-tree-ireland-folklore/ 
• O’Hara, R. 2008. Report on Archaeological Excavations at Dunboyne 2 A017/012. Unpublished report prepared for ACS Ltd and Meath County Council. Bennetstown 3, A017/005 M3 Clonee–North of Kells Motorway Scheme 9  
• O'Hara, R. 2008. Report on Archaeological Excavations at Dunboyne 3 A017/013. Unpublished report prepared for ACS Ltd and Meath County Council. 
• Stroh, P. A., Humphrey, T. A., Burkmar, R. J., Pescott, O. L., Roy, D. B., & Walker, K. J. 2023. BSBI Online Plant Atlas 2020. https://plantatlas2020.org/atlas
• Tree Council of Ireland. 2024. Native Irish Trees. Tree Council of Ireland. https://www.treecouncil.ie/native-irish-trees 
• Walsh, F. 2014. Burnt Mounds and Charcoal-Production Kilns at Kildimo, Co. Limerick, North Munster Antiquarian Journal, 54, 27-42. 
• Woodland Trust. 2024. A-Z of British trees. Woodland Trust. https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/