Crataegus schraderiana
| Crataegus schraderiana | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |   |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 20' |
| Blooms: | Early Summer |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Crataegus schraderiana
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 an excellent potential as a fruit crop in Britain. The fruit is about the size of a cherry, it is very freely borne and the best forms are of excellent dessert quality[K]. 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]. Grafted specimens can produce fruit in their third year[K].
A very ornamental plant[6], it grows well in Britain flowering and fruiting well at Kew and Wisley[K].
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[7].
Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[5].
Seedlings should not be left in a seedbed for more than 2 years without being transplanted[4].
Range: S. Europe - Greece.
Habitat: Mountainous areas[8].
Edibility: Fruit - raw or cooked[6]. A reasonable size, about 15 - 20mm in diameter[K]. This is one of the nicest tasting fruits of the genus I have tried to date. When fully ripe it is juicy with an extremely pleasant flavour and almost literally melts in the mouth[K]. I would far rather eat this fruit than a strawberry[K]. It ripens in late September and hangs on the tree in good condition for at least 4 weeks[K]. The ripe fruit is so soft that it is best eaten fresh from the tree[K]. The fruit can also be used in making pies, 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[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[10].
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.
Also Known As: C. orientalis sanguinea. C. tournefortii.
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.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Komarov, Vladimir. Flora of the USSR. Gantner Verlag, 1968.
- ↑ Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ Tutin, Tom et al.. Flora Europaea. Cambridge University Press, 1964.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Foster, Steven and Billy Tatum. Medicinal Plants of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin, 1990.
- ↑ Sargent, Charles. Manual of the Trees of North America. Dover, 1965.