Crataegus aestivalis
(Walter) Torr. & A.Gray
Rosaceae
The taxonomy of Crataegus species has historically been very confused, with over 1,200 different species recognized by some authors in the past. This number has been gradually and very significantly reduced, especially since the publication of several regional studies carried out since the late 1980’s, and current thinking is that the final number could be below 150 distinct species[
1212- Title
- New Trees
- Publication
-
- Author
- Grimshaw J.; Bayton R.; Wilks H.
- Publisher
- Kew Publishing; London
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 1842461737
- Description
- Provides comprehensive botanical descriptions and horticultural commentary on over 800 tree species that have been introduced to cultivation in recent decades.
]. Many of the genera that were included in this database prior to 2017 will now be treated as synonyms or subspecies, and it is likely that a number of other currently accepted species will also receive that fate once a complete revision of the genus (underway in 2015) has been published.
Crataegus cerasoides Sarg.
Crataegus fruticosus Sarg.
Crataegus luculenta Sarg.
Crataegus maloides Sarg.
Crataegus monantha Sarg.
Mespilus aestivalis Walter
Common Name: Eastern Mayhaw
General Information
Crataegus aestivalis is a thorny, deciduous shrub or small tree with a rounded canopy; it usually grows 2 - 12 metres tall[
270- Title
- Flora of N. America
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses.
,
277- Title
- Plants Database
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://plants.usda.gov/java/factSheet
- Publisher
- United States Department of Agriculture
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An online database with an excellent collection of fact sheets about native N. American plants.
].
The plant is a popular wild food, often used in conserves in southeastern N. America. It is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of materials. The fruit has gained in popularity and the plant is sometimes cultivated as a fruit crop and can also be grown in soil stabilization and shelterbelt plantings.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
270- Title
- Flora of N. America
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses.
Range
South-eastern N. America - North Carolina to Florida, west to Mississippi
Habitat
Found on the outer coastal plain in seasonally flooded depressions, in floodplains or in uplands. It is commonly found in river swamps, pond areas, and along stream banks[
277- Title
- Plants Database
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://plants.usda.gov/java/factSheet
- Publisher
- United States Department of Agriculture
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An online database with an excellent collection of fact sheets about native N. American plants.
].
Properties
Edibility Rating | |
Medicinal Rating | |
Other Uses Rating | |
Habit | Deciduous Shrub |
Height | 8.00 m |
Growth Rate | Medium |
Pollinators | Midges |
Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Crataegus aestivalis is a very hardy species, tolerating temperatures down to about -30°c when dormant[
160- Title
- Wonder Crops. 1987.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Natural Food Institute,
- Publisher
-
- Year
-
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Fascinating reading, this is an annual publication. Some reports do seem somewhat exaggerated though.
].
Crataegus species are generally very easily cultivated plants, growing best in full sun to medium shade and preferring a well-drained but moisture retentive loamy soil, though they are not usually fussy[
11- Title
- Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bean. W.
- Publisher
- Murray
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
,
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. This species also thrives in acid soils[
160- Title
- Wonder Crops. 1987.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Natural Food Institute,
- Publisher
-
- Year
-
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Fascinating reading, this is an annual publication. Some reports do seem somewhat exaggerated though.
]. Once established, many species can tolerate a range of difficult conditions including drought; excessively moist soils; limy soils; exposed, windy, maritime conditions; and atmospheric pollution[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Notes on the plants habitat above may give more ideas on this[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Crataegus aestivalis is occasionally cultivated for its fruit in America, there are some named varieties[
183- Title
- Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-0-9
- Description
- Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
]. A form that was once seen as distinct (as Crataegus cerasoides) has large, late-ripening fruit[
270- Title
- Flora of N. America
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses.
]. Another form (previously known as Crataegus monantha) is a dwarf form from northern Florida that could be used as a rootstock[
270- Title
- Flora of N. America
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses.
].
The plant has become a popular ornamental in N. America due to its showy white flowers, attractive foliage and ability to adapt to a variety of sites[
277- Title
- Plants Database
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://plants.usda.gov/java/factSheet
- Publisher
- United States Department of Agriculture
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An online database with an excellent collection of fact sheets about native N. American plants.
].
This species is closely related to Crataegus opaca and is included in that species by some botanists.
Trees growing in a sunny position generally produce more and better quality fruit than trees growing in the shade[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Crataegus species often hybridize freely with other members of the genus[
11- Title
- Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bean. W.
- Publisher
- Murray
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
,
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. This statement is not fully accurate; at least in the wild most Crataegus species usually breed true and only occasionally hybridize - in addition, any hybrids are usually putative[
1257- Title
- Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden Vol 92
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.mbgpress.org
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden; St. Louis, Missouri
- Year
- 2005
- ISBN
- 0026-6493
- Description
- A botanical journal, containing a range of articles
].
Many Crataegus species are very variable with regard to fruit size and quality. Seedlings, even if obtained from a good fruiting form, can often be disappointing - though they can also be an improvement on the original form. The most reliable way of obtaining a good fruiting form is by grafting from a known good tree, or obtaining a named cultivar from a reliable source[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Seedling trees take from 5 - 8 years before they start bearing fruit, though grafted trees will often flower heavily in their third year[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Seedlings should not be left in a seedbed for more than 2 years without being transplanted[
11- Title
- Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bean. W.
- Publisher
- Murray
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
].
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[
245- Title
- Scented Flora of the World.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Genders. R.
- Publisher
- Robert Hale. London.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
- 0-7090-5440-8
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.
].
Edible Uses
Fruit - raw or cooked[
160- Title
- Wonder Crops. 1987.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Natural Food Institute,
- Publisher
-
- Year
-
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Fascinating reading, this is an annual publication. Some reports do seem somewhat exaggerated though.
]. Juicy and acid with a pleasant flavour[
2- Title
- Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Hedrick. U. P.
- Publisher
- Dover Publications
- Year
- 1972
- ISBN
- 0-486-20459-6
- Description
- Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.
]. The fruit is frequently used and much prized in parts of southern N. America where it is often gathered in quantity from the wild. Its acid flavour makes it a favourite for preserves and jellies[
82- Title
- Manual of the Trees of N. America.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Sargent. C. S.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
- Publisher
- Dover Publications Inc. New York.
- Year
- 1965
- ISBN
- 0-486-20278-X
- Description
- Two volumes, a comprehensive listing of N. American trees though a bit out of date now. Good details on habitats, some details on plant uses. Not really for the casual reader. It can be downloaded from the internet.
,
183- Title
- Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-0-9
- Description
- Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
,
227- Title
- Trees of North Texas
- Publication
-
- Author
- Vines. R.A.
- Publisher
- University of Texas Press.
- Year
- 1982
- ISBN
- 0292780206
- Description
- A readable guide to the area, it contains descriptions of the plants and their habitats with quite a bit of information on plant uses.
]. The fruit can also be dried for later use. The red, occasionally yellow, globose is 8 - 20mm in diameter[227,270]. There are 4 - 5 fairly large seeds in the centre of the fruit, these often stick together and so the effect is of eating a cherry-like fruit with a single seed[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Medicinal
The plant has been used as a tea (probably the flowers and fruit[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
]) in herbal folk medicine for the treatment of high blood pressure[
277- Title
- Plants Database
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://plants.usda.gov/java/factSheet
- Publisher
- United States Department of Agriculture
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An online database with an excellent collection of fact sheets about native N. American plants.
].
Although no further specific mention has been seen for this species, the fruits and flowers of many hawthorns are well-known in herbal folk medicine as a heart tonic and modern research has borne out this use. The fruits and flowers have a hypotensive effect as well as acting as a direct and mild heart tonic[
222- Title
- A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Foster. S. & Duke. J. A.
- Publisher
- Houghton Mifflin Co.
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0-395-46722-5
- Description
- A concise book dealing with almost 500 species. A line drawing of each plant is included plus colour photographs of about 100 species. Very good as a field guide, it only gives brief details about the plants medicinal properties.
]. They are especially indicated in the treatment of weak heart combined with high blood pressure[
222- Title
- A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Foster. S. & Duke. J. A.
- Publisher
- Houghton Mifflin Co.
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0-395-46722-5
- Description
- A concise book dealing with almost 500 species. A line drawing of each plant is included plus colour photographs of about 100 species. Very good as a field guide, it only gives brief details about the plants medicinal properties.
]. Prolonged use is necessary for it to be efficacious[
222- Title
- A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Foster. S. & Duke. J. A.
- Publisher
- Houghton Mifflin Co.
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0-395-46722-5
- Description
- A concise book dealing with almost 500 species. A line drawing of each plant is included plus colour photographs of about 100 species. Very good as a field guide, it only gives brief details about the plants medicinal properties.
]. It is normally used either as a tea or a tincture[
222- Title
- A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Foster. S. & Duke. J. A.
- Publisher
- Houghton Mifflin Co.
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0-395-46722-5
- Description
- A concise book dealing with almost 500 species. A line drawing of each plant is included plus colour photographs of about 100 species. Very good as a field guide, it only gives brief details about the plants medicinal properties.
].
Agroforestry Uses:
Because it tolerates a wide variety of sites, this species can be used to stabilize stream banks, for shelterbelts, and to give protection from wind and water erosion[
277- Title
- Plants Database
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://plants.usda.gov/java/factSheet
- Publisher
- United States Department of Agriculture
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An online database with an excellent collection of fact sheets about native N. American plants.
].
Other Uses
A dwarf form from northern Florida (previously known as Crataegus monantha) has potential for use as a rootstock[
270- Title
- Flora of N. America
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses.
].
The wood of Crataegus species is generally of good quality, though it is often of too small a size to be of much value. It usually has a red-brown heartwood with a thick band of lighter-coloured, usually pale sapwood. The wood is heavy, extremely hard, tough and close-grained. Where wood of suficient diameter is found it is often greatly prized for use in turnery, and has traditionally been used for purposes such as making tool handles, mallets and other small items[
82- Title
- Manual of the Trees of N. America.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Sargent. C. S.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
- Publisher
- Dover Publications Inc. New York.
- Year
- 1965
- ISBN
- 0-486-20278-X
- Description
- Two volumes, a comprehensive listing of N. American trees though a bit out of date now. Good details on habitats, some details on plant uses. Not really for the casual reader. It can be downloaded from the internet.
,
1258- Title
- Hawthorns and Medlars
- Publication
-
- Author
- Phipps J.B.; O'Kennon R.J. & Lance R.W.
- Publisher
- Timber Press; Portland
- Year
- 2003
- ISBN
- 0-88192-591-8
- Description
- An excellent guide to some of the better known Crataegus species, plus quite a few less well-known. It also contains some information on the Medlar.
].
Propagation
Seed - this is best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame, some of the seed will germinate in the spring, though most will probably take another year. Stored seed can be very slow and erratic to germinate, it should be warm stratified for 3 months at 15°c and then cold stratified for another 3 months at 4°c[
164- Title
- Growing from Seed. Volume 4.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bird. R. (Editor)
- Publisher
- Thompson and Morgan.
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation. A good article on Yuccas, one on Sagebrush (Artemesia spp) and another on Chaerophyllum bulbosum.
]. It may still take another 18 months to germinate[
78- Title
- Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Sheat. W. G.
- Publisher
- MacMillan and Co
- Year
- 1948
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.
]. Scarifying the seed before stratifying it might reduce this time[
80- Title
- Hardy Woody Plants from Seed.
- Publication
-
- Author
- McMillan-Browse. P.
- Publisher
- Grower Books
- Year
- 1985
- ISBN
- 0-901361-21-6
- Description
- Does not deal with many species but it is very comprehensive on those that it does cover. Not for casual reading.
]. Fermenting the seed for a few days in its own pulp may also speed up the germination process[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
]. Another possibility is to harvest the seed 'green' (as soon as the embryo has fully developed but before the seedcoat hardens) and sow it immediately in a cold frame. If timed well, it can germinate in the spring[
80- Title
- Hardy Woody Plants from Seed.
- Publication
-
- Author
- McMillan-Browse. P.
- Publisher
- Grower Books
- Year
- 1985
- ISBN
- 0-901361-21-6
- Description
- Does not deal with many species but it is very comprehensive on those that it does cover. Not for casual reading.
]. If you are only growing small quantities of plants, it is best to pot up the seedlings as soon as they are large enough to handle and grow them on in individual pots for their first year, planting them out in late spring into nursery beds or their final positions. When growing larger quantities, it might be best to sow them directly outdoors in a seedbed, but with protection from mice and other seed-eating creatures. Grow them on in the seedbed until large enough to plant out, but undercut the roots if they are to be left undisturbed for more than two years.