Crataegus monogyna
FAMILY NAME Rosaceae
CHARACTERISTICS Glossy, deeply lobed leaves approximately 6cm (2½in) long
HABITAT Woodland, hedgerows and gardens
DISTRIBUTION Europe
FLOWERS AND FRUIT Pretty white or pink flowers, which develop into dark-red berries known as ‘haws’
Also known as the May Tree after the month in which it blooms, the Common Hawthorn has long been associated with faeries. The Celts believed that the tree was inhabited by fey folk. Leaves were often eaten or made into a potion, along with the flowers, to stabilize blood pressure. During medieval times the tree had a more sinister reputation, thanks to the blossom, which smelled like the Great Plague; scientists have since discovered that a chemical present in the blossom is also associated with rotting flesh. Hugely valuable for wildlife, it can provide food for hundreds of insect species and many birds and small mammals.