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[]. 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.

Common Name: Tejocote

General Information

Crataegus mexicana is a thorny, deciduous shrub or, more commonly, a tree that can grow from 4 - 7 metres tall, occasionally reaching 10 metres[]. Plants are more or less evergreen in mild-winter climates, but will be defoliated if temperatures fall below -8°c[].
The tree is often cultivated, especially in Mexico, as a fruit crop and is commonly harvested from the wild for local use. The fruit is sold in local markets. The plant is sometimes used as a rootstock and occasionally grown as an ornamental.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

C. America - Guatemala, north to northern Mexico

Habitat

Found in disturbed oak or pine-oak forests, often in secondary vegetation. It is often protected and cultivated along roadsides, in hedgerows, as well as in home gardens; at elevations from 2,000 - 2,850 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	6.00 m
Pollinators	Midges
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Semi-cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Crataegus mexicana is a moderately cold-hardy plant, plants from suitable provenances are able to tolerate short-lived temperatures down to around -18°c when dormant so long as the summers have been hot enough to fully ripen the wood[, ]. It grows best in areas with dry climates[].
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[, ]. This species grows well on a chalk soil and also in heavy clay soils[]. Once established, many species can tolerate a range of difficult conditions including drought; excessively moist soils; exposed, windy, maritime conditions; and atmospheric pollution[]. Notes on the plants habitat above may give more ideas on this[].
Trees growing in a sunny position generally produce more and better quality fruit than trees growing in the shade[].
Crataegus mexicana is often cultivated or semi-cultivated for its edible fruit, especially in Mexico but also through much of Central America, in the Andes of S. America, southern USA and South Africa. Cultivation, especially in Mexico, has reduced in recent times (2017) as other fruits such as apples have became more widely available[, , ].
The variability of fruit size, shape and colour is large. There exist about 20 cultivars, including thornless forms, the best of which have large, deep-red fruits[].
The plant has a long flowering season in Mexico, where it can be found in flower from December to May, sporadically until August. The fruiting season extends throughout the year, but is mainly in November and December[].
Plants often retain their leaves until the New Year[].
Crataegus species often hybridize freely with other members of the genus[, ]. 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[].
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[].
Seedling trees take from 5 - 8 years before they start bearing fruit, though grafted trees will often flower heavily in their third year[].
Seedlings should not be left in a seedbed for more than 2 years without being transplanted[].
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[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[, , , ]. Eaten raw or processed to marmalade, jam, jelly and syrup[]. Rich in vitamin C[]. The yellow fruit can be up to 20mm in diameter, it is mealy and juicy with a slightly apple-like flavour[, ]. It is used in jellies, jams and preserves etc and can be dried for later use. There are up to five 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[].
The fruit is appreciated for its pleasant taste and is used to prepare jelly, which is consumed as such or is usually used for the production of regional sweets called 'ates'[].
Yellow-orange, globose or somewhat turbid fruit, (1 .2) 1.5 to 2.5 (4) cm in diameter, often more or less villous, especially in youth[]

Medicinal

The fruit is used in traditional medicine[].

The bark is used in folk medicine[].

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[]. They are especially indicated in the treatment of weak heart combined with high blood pressure[]. Prolonged use is necessary for it to be efficacious[]. It is normally used either as a tea or a tincture[].

Other Uses

The tree could be of some importance as a drought resistant rootstock (for apple, pear and quince) for arid regions[].

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[, ].

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[]. It may still take another 18 months to germinate[]. Scarifying the seed before stratifying it might reduce this time[]. Fermenting the seed for a few days in its own pulp may also speed up the germination process[]. 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[]. 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.