Hawthorn Bush Berries – Information may be out of date The information on this page was originally published on December 19, 2007. It may not be out of date, but please check our website for more current information. If you intend to cite or refer to this information in a publication, please consult an expert or author before proceeding.
Sometimes we take native plants for granted and forget the exceptional qualities they bring to the landscape. One example is hawthorn parsley.
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Hawthorn Bush Berries
My office is located at Hinds Community College, and the campus here is a virtual arboretum. Every tree and bush looks like it was part of the plan, and the winter color of the berry-producing plants was definitely part of the design.
Impressive Health Benefits Of Hawthorn Berry
For more than 12 years I have been admiring the parsley hawthorns in the dorm. Botanically speaking, they are Crataegus marshallii, at least according to most USDA links and websites. It was probably changed to Crataegus apifolia to keep us on our toes.
The name tells you that the leaves look like parsley – not the curly kind, but the regular version. In spring, this member of the rosaceae family piles up a blanket of snow-white flowers with long, delicate-looking stamens tipped with pink anthers.
Let me simply say that they are cute, and that’s right in the spring. I challenge you to find a small tree with more red fruit than parsley hawthorn in the fall and winter. They are borne by the thousands and make the tree visible from a great distance when the sun shows off their brilliant color.
Birds eat the fruit, but I also noticed that each tree has a branchy top growth that is perfect for birds looking to nest. It’s kind of like shopping for birds in one place – home and grocery store.
Hawthorn (crataegus Monogyna): A Tree Of Edges, Magic And Heart Healing — A.s Apothecary
Parsley hawthorn is native from Texas to Florida and as far north as Illinois, Kentucky, and Virginia, with most references indicating it is hardy from zones 4 or 5 through 9.
The trees have a nice structure, usually with two or three trunks that branch into several scaffolds. Older trees have an interesting exfoliating bark. They can reach 25 feet tall and 25 feet wide, but most are closer to 15 feet and not that wide.
It occurs in a variety of soils, from acidic to slightly alkaline, and from well-drained to those slightly on the boggy side. If you can find one at a nursery that specializes in natives, choose a planting site with part sun or morning sun and afternoon shade and fertile, well-drained soil. This will give you a photo-worthy specimen.
Also know that their water needs, once established, are considered to be in the medium-low range. This is nice considering the sparse rainfall we get each year.
Hawthorn Berries: Identify, Harvest, And Make An Extract |
While they can certainly stand alone, placing them with a backdrop of evergreens creates an even better show. It’s probably one of those situations where opposites attract because the opposite of red is green.
Over the years I’ve told you about great plants from around the world. This time, however, it’s the one we drive by all the time and take for granted. It’s about time we put some of these natives back into our landscape, and parsley hawthorn is definitely one to consider. Fall or spring planting is best for hawthorn, but as with all shrubs, fall is always the ideal time.
Choosing to plant in the fall allows roots to develop before winter and growth will be stronger in the spring.
Hawthorn is very easy to care for and requires little attention when properly established.
Hawthorn — Wildness Within
Hawthorn pruning is not needed unless it is part of a hedge. If so, you will need to prune it regularly.
Often used in defensive hedges, however, the hawthorn is more than that, as it has decorative leaves and abundant flowers, making it a very beautiful tree.
Hardy and low-maintenance, this tree will also satisfy you as it adapts to the soil and climate where you live.
The leaves turn different shades from spring to autumn and the beautiful berries will decorate your hawthorn from late summer to early winter.
Hawthorn Bush Laden Image & Photo (free Trial)
Although edible, hawthorn berries taste bland and mealy when raw, but birds go crazy for them.
If you need to deter people from crossing your yard, use hawthorn because its thorns are the real thing!
(all edits by Gaspard Lorthiois): Lots of hawthorn berries (also on social media) by Christel Funk under license from Pixabay Blooming hawthorn by Les Whalley under license from Pixabay A few berries on a hawthorn tree by Michaela under license from Pixabay Leaves and berries (also on social media) from Rosalyn & Gaspard Lorthiois, own work Written by Ariane Lang, BSc, MBA and SaVanna Shoemaker, MS, RDN, LD — Medically reviewed by Kathy W. Warwick, R.D., CDE, Nutrition — Updated December 13, 2021
These nutrient-rich berries have a sour, tangy flavor and a mild sweetness. They range in color from yellow to dark red (
Hawthorn Berries Stock Photo. Image Of Berry, Medicine
For hundreds of years, people have used hawthorn berries as an herbal remedy for digestive problems, heart problems and high blood pressure. In fact, the berry has been a key part of traditional Chinese medicine since at least AD 659 (
Antioxidants help neutralize unstable molecules called free radicals that can damage your body when present in high levels.
Free radicals can come from certain foods. You may also have higher levels due to exposure to environmental toxins such as air pollution and cigarette smoke (
Polyphenols are associated with numerous health benefits due to their antioxidant activity, including a lower risk (
Hawthorn Tree Orange Image & Photo (free Trial)
Although initial animal and cell research is promising, more human studies are needed to assess the effects of hawthorn berries on disease risk.
Summary Hawthorn berries contain plant polyphenols that have antioxidant properties that have been linked to numerous health benefits.
Research has found that chronic inflammation is linked to many diseases, including type 2 diabetes, asthma, and some cancers (
In a study in mice with liver disease, hawthorn fruit extract significantly reduced levels of inflammatory compounds, leading to reduced inflammation and liver damage (
Hawthorn Bush With Red Berries
In one study, researchers administered vitexin—a compound present in hawthorn leaves—to mice with respiratory problems. This treatment reduced the production of molecules that trigger inflammation and reduced the response of white blood cells to inflammation (
These promising results from animal and test-tube studies suggest that the supplement may offer anti-inflammatory benefits in humans. However, further research is needed.
Summary Hawthorn fruit extract has demonstrated anti-inflammatory potential in test-tube and animal studies. Still, human research is needed.
In traditional Chinese medicine, hawthorn berries are one of the most commonly recommended foods for treating high blood pressure (
City Of Wild: Chinese Hawthorns With Tasty Red Fruits
Animal studies show that hawthorn can act as a vasodilator, meaning it can relax narrowed blood vessels and ultimately lower blood pressure (
A 10-week study looked at the effects of taking hawthorn extract in 36 people with mildly elevated blood pressure.
The researchers found that those who took 500 mg of the extract daily had lower diastolic blood pressure – the bottom number of the blood pressure reading (
In a 2006 study, researchers gave 1,200 mg of hawthorn extract to 79 people with type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure every day for 16 weeks. People who took the extract experienced greater improvements in blood pressure than those in the placebo group (
Hawthorn, May, Maythorn, Whitethorn, Crataegus Monogyna/laevigata
However, more studies are needed to support these findings. It is also important to note that using the extract is not the same as eating the berries.
Summary Some research suggests that hawthorn berries may lower blood pressure by helping to dilate blood vessels. However, further studies are needed.
Some studies suggest that hawthorn extract may improve blood cholesterol levels due to its flavonoid and pectin content. Pectin is a type of fiber involved in cholesterol metabolism (e.g.
Imbalanced levels of cholesterol in the blood — particularly high triglycerides and low HDL (good) cholesterol — play a role in atherosclerosis, or the buildup of plaque in your arteries (
Wild Hawthorn Berries On Bush Stock Photo
If plaque continues to build up, it could completely block a blood vessel, leading to a heart attack or stroke.
In one animal study, mice given two doses of hawthorn extract had lower total and LDL (bad) cholesterol, as well as 28-47% lower liver triglyceride levels, compared to mice that did not receive the extract (
Similarly, a 6-week study in rats showed that when rats were fed hawthorn fruit supplements, they had significantly reduced levels of fasting triglycerides and LDL (bad) cholesterol (
Finally, a 6-month study in 64 people with atherosclerosis found that taking hawthorn extract at a dose of 2.3 mg per pound (5 mg per kg) of body weight significantly reduced the thickness of harmful plaque buildup in the carotid artery (
Hawthorn Berries Growing On A Tree Branch In The Garden. Stock Photo
Although this research is promising, more human studies are needed to assess the effect of hawthorn extract on blood cholesterol levels.
Summary Animal and human research suggests that taking hawthorn extract may help lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. However, more human research is needed.
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