Blackthorn
Prunus spinosa has unlobed leaves and blue-black sloes.
Use the botanical sourceExtra care needed
Common hawthorn.
Crataegus monogyna
Also found as May tree · Common hawthorn
A thorny hedgerow shrub with deeply lobed leaves, white May blossom and dark red autumn haws.
Sources checked 27 September 2026 · Specialist field review pending
Before any gathering or use
Hawthorn preparations can interact with heart medicines. Seeds contain cyanogenic compounds; strain them out.
Where it grows
Tracked records and known growing zone
- Verified records
- 44,697
- People who recorded it
- 17,891
- Most records (northern hemisphere)
- Apr–May, Aug–Sep
- Records span
- 1970–2026
| January | 364 |
|---|---|
| February | 284 |
| March | 1309 |
| April | 10532 |
| May | 9327 |
| June | 3460 |
| July | 2734 |
| August | 4066 |
| September | 4124 |
| October | 3479 |
| November | 1786 |
| December | 657 |
| January | 173 |
|---|---|
| February | 173 |
| March | 288 |
| April | 658 |
| May | 334 |
| June | 46 |
| July | 37 |
| August | 29 |
| September | 81 |
| October | 373 |
| November | 264 |
| December | 119 |
Research-grade iNaturalist records, snapshot Aug 27, 2026. The growing zone combines areas where different people have repeatedly verified it. Records show where people looked and found it, not current abundance or permission to gather.
01 / Learn to see
Field marks
- 01
Thorny branches with deeply lobed leaves.
- 02
Clusters of white to pink five-petaled flowers in spring.
- 03
Dark red berries (haws) with a single stone.
These are study prompts, not a complete identification key. Confirm the full plant with a regional flora and an experienced local identifier.
02 / Resolve the differences
Look closely. Compare.
Other hawthorns
Many Crataegus species hybridize; the family is broadly similar.
Use the botanical sourceSelected comparisons only. Other lookalikes may occur locally.
03 / Meet the place
Habitat & season
Range context
Native to Europe, North Africa and western Asia; introduced elsewhere, including North America and Australia.
Watch the plant stage
Flowers in late spring; haws ripen in autumn.
Stage guidance is not a local forecast. Check your climate, elevation and a regional source; no month-shift formula is used here.
04 / Gather with care
Documented use & care
Parts discussed: Fruit · Flower · Young leaf
Cook haws into jelly or sauce and strain out seeds. Flowers and leaves are used for tea.
Care for the patch
Hedgerow haws feed thrushes through winter; leave most for birds.
Preparation & storage essentials05 / Follow the evidence
Sources & review
- Wikipedia · Crataegus monogynaBotanical description, range and documented use
- iNaturalist · Crataegus monogynaTaxonomy and verified observation records
Checked 27 September 2026. Original editorial synthesis; source institutions have not reviewed or endorsed this guide. Independent botanical field review is pending. Photos illustrate specimens; they do not certify the identity of a plant you find.
Suggest a correction