Hortiforum

General Info – Chinese Hawthorn, Chinese Hawberry, Hawthorn, Mountain Hawthorn

Chinese Hawthorn produces clusters of bright red to orange fruits that resemble crab apples. Hawthorn fruits are Pomes and like other Pomes such as Apples and Pears, the fruits are lightly speckled, but they usually have a more prominent calyx when mature. Similar to the related Common Hawthorn (Crataegus Monogyna), Chinese Hawthorn is edible and is often considered more versatile and more commonly cultivated for culinary purposes. The fruit has a pleasant, balanced flavour, with both sweetness and tartness. While suitable for eating fresh, it is especially good when cooked or preserved. Chinese Hawthorn is highly valued in Chinese cuisine, where it is used in a variety of sweet dishes. It is the traditional fruit used in Tanghulu, a popular snack where fruits are skewered and dipped in malt sugar syrup to create a crunchy, sweet coating similar to a toffee apple. It is also cooked into a paste with sugar to make Shanzhagao and Haw Flakes, the latter of which is a traditional ingredient in Cantonese sweet and sour sauce. Beyond these specialties, the fruit can also be dried or made into jams and preserves. For those looking to grow an unusual fruit tree with real culinary value, Chinese Hawthorn is an excellent choice, comparable to regionally beloved but otherwise rare fruits like Santol, Pangium, or Barberry.
Chinese Hawthorn is native to much of temperate Northeast Asia, being especially well-known and cultivated in China but also being found in Mongolia and the Russian Far East. These regions experience extremely cold, harsh winters, making this tree suitable for even the coldest temperate climate in Australia. In the wild, it grows in a variety of environments, from rocky hillsides to sandy riverbanks and swamps. Crataegus species are known for their resilience, tolerating difficult conditions such as rocky or sandy soils, clay, chalk, cold winters, wind, and even drought. Chinese Hawthorn is especially noted for its tolerance to strong winds, moderate drought, heavy clay, and alkaline soils, though it thrives best in neutral, well-drained loam.
Chinese Hawthorn has an upright, well-shaped growth habit and is especially attractive in spring when covered in clusters of white flowers. While visually appealing, the flowers may emit an unpleasant smell before fully opening, often described as similar to dead fish. This scent attracts midges, the plant’s primary pollinators. The tree generally reaches 3 to 4 metres tall and may grow as wide as it is high, rarely exceeding 6 to 7 metres. Its fruit can remain on the tree into winter, creating a striking display against bare branches. As with Medlars, the fruit can become sweeter after a frost. Unlike most Hawthorns, which are known for their sharp thorns, Chinese Hawthorn is often nearly thornless, with some varieties lacking thorns entirely. In Autumn, the leaves turn vivid shades, adding seasonal interest similar to many other members of the Rosaceae family.

Plant Profile/Properties