Common hawthorn, also known as one-seed hawthorn or single-seeded hawthorn, is a flowering plant in the rose family. It is native to Europe, northwestern Africa, and Western Asia. It has been introduced in many other parts of the world.
Common hawthorn is a small to mid-sized native, thorny tree. It can grow 2 to 6 meters tall. In rare cases, heights of more than 10 meters are possible.
Common hawthorn quickly makes a very effective, dense, and thorny stock-proof hedge. It has been grown for hundreds of years for this purpose.
Common hawthorn is easily recognizable in spring when its thorny branches are smothered in white flowers. They are borne in flat clusters of 6 to 12. They are strongly scented and, therefore, attract pollinating insects.
Autumn brings an abundance of red haws which can be used to make jam or delicious Hawthorn jelly. The berries are held on the tree well into winter to provide food for birds.