Crataegus pensylvanica
| Crataegus pensylvanica | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 5 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 30' |
| Blooms: | Late Spring |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Crataegus pensylvanica
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[1]. It may still take another 18 months to germinate[2]. Scarifying the seed before stratifying it might reduce this time[3]. Fermenting the seed for a few days in its own pulp may also speed up the germination process[K]. 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[3]. 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.
Cultivation: A very easily grown plant, it prefers a well-drained moisture retentive loamy soil but is not at all fussy[4][5]. Once established, it succeeds in excessively moist soils and also tolerates drought[5]. It grows well on a chalk soil and also in heavy clay soils[5]. A position in full sun is best when plants are being grown for their fruit, they also succeed in semi-shade though fruit yields and quality will be lower in such a position[4][5]. Most members of this genus succeed in exposed positions, they also tolerate atmospheric pollution[5].
This species has a good potential as a fruit crop in Britain. It regularly produces heavy crops of high quality, the tree is very easily grown and is little troubled by pests or diseases. It also requires very little attention, once the trees are established virtually the only work needed is to harvest the fruit each year[K].
A tree about 5 metres tall and wide at Kew fruits regularly and very heavily[K].
Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[5].
Seedling trees take from 5 - 8 years before they start bearing fruit, though grafted trees will often flower heavily in their third year[K].
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[6].
Seedlings should not be left in a seedbed for more than 2 years without being transplanted[4].
Range: Eastern N. America - Delaware to Pennsylvanica and W. Virginia.
Habitat: Open woods and thickets in moist fertile soils[7]. Meadows in low, moist soils[8].
Edibility: Fruit - raw or cooked. A very good size fruit, up to 25mm in diameter, with a lovely semi-sweet flavour even when semi-ripe, it makes a delicious dessert[K]. It is also sometimes made into jellies[8] and can be dried for later use. The fruit is borne in clusters of 4- 12 and is very easily harvested[8][K]. There are up to five fairly large seeds in the centre of each fruit, these often stick together and so the effect is of eating a cherry-like fruit with a single seed[K].
Medicinal: Although no 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[9]. They are especially indicated in the treatment of weak heart combined with high blood pressure[9]. Prolonged use is necessary for it to be efficacious[9]. It is normally used either as a tea or a tincture[9].
Usage: Wood - heavy, hard, tough, close-grained. Useful for making tool handles, mallets and other small items[8].
Pollinators: Midges
Notes: We would need to buy in the seed and could supply from the year they germinated.
Alternatively, we could take grafts from our own plants in a couple of years time and supply from 2002.
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Wind: Tolerates strong winds
Pollution: Tolerates environmental pollution.
Seed Ripens: Early Fall-Mid Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Heavy Clay: Grows in heavy-clay soils.
Links
References
- ↑ Bird, Alfred. Growing from Seed Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan, 1990.
- ↑ Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 McMillan-Browse, Philip. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books, 1985.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ Lyndon, Merritt. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co, 1950.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Sargent, Charles. Manual of the Trees of North America. Dover, 1965.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Foster, Steven and Billy Tatum. Medicinal Plants of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin, 1990.