MĀNANWATIA A MATARIKI! I'M JUST GETTING BACK UP TO SPEED AFTER BEING OFF SICK FOR THE LAST MONTH, SO APOLOGIES IF YOUR ORDER OR ENQUIRY TAKES A LITTLE LONGER TO DEAL WITH THAN USUAL. THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE:)

Chinese Hawthorn

Crataegus pinnatifida

$34.00

Out of stock

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Hardy deciduous easy care shrub/tree. Heavy yields of fruit follow attractive late spring blossom. The fruit, which varies in colour from yellowish-pink to red, can be up to 20mm in diameter and has acid-sweet flesh reminiscent of a slightly mealy apple.

Height to 7m, but can easily be kept pruned smaller. Watch out for a few large thorns on older branches (and occasionally on younger ones too!).

New season stock Winter 2026: PB3 grades, approx 50-60cm tall

Cultivation

Very easy to grow as it is tolerant of most soils and sites including extremes of very wet and very dry, strong winds and atmospheric pollution.

Uses

Haws can be eaten raw, cooked, or dried, and can be processed into jams, jellies, wines, fruit leathers etc, either alone or blended with other fruit. They are high in pectin so are a useful addition to low pectin fruits to aid jam setting. In northern Chinese cuisine, the ripe fruit is used in the desserts and the traditional candies haw flakes and haw rolls, as well as candied fruit slices, jam, jelly, and wine. It is also traditionally used as a finishing ingredient in Cantonese sweet and sour sauce.

The young leaves in spring are also edible for humans and livestock., and the tree can be a useful part of a chook fodder system.<br
Hawthorn makes a good hedgerow or shelter planting, and is common species in the UK for hedgelaying, making a stock-proof barrier.

Medicinal Uses

Hawthorn is of the best known plants in western herbalism, the flowers, leaves and fruit are all used and have a specific action on the heart. Hawthorn is a troporestorative, ie. it has long-term restorative benefits to the heart and circulatory system when taken over time—it heals the heart and helps it function better.  It strengthens the heartbeat and aids in smoothing out the rhythm of the heart. The fruit contains several medically active constituents including flavonoids and organic acids and has been shown to lower blood cholesterol levels and regulate high blood pressure –  it relaxes tension and helps dilate the blood vessels to allow blood to flow more freely. The berries are anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant. The flowers and berries are also astringent and can be used in a decoction for sore throats. In China the fruits are also eaten dried to aid digestion.

History / Folklore / Further Info

Jo Says

When they were young, our kids loved the fruit on these plants, they can be eaten like tiny apples and are great for lunchboxes!

Shipping Advice

N.B. Shipping costs are added AFTER you have placed your order, you will then be emailed an invoice with bank details. 

Smallest box rate:
This can fit up to 9 plants in 9cm pots.

Shipping a single tree can be expensive. We may be able to fit more in the box for the same price! See our shipping rates for single and multi tree boxes.

Combining sizes?
No problem, we will work out the best rate for you once you’ve placed your order.

Medical disclaimer

Jo has a passion for growing herbs but is not a qualified herbalist and has no medical background.

We are lucky to have Patricia Beagle working here at times, who is qualified, and some of her advice does appear on these pages, but herbs act differently for different people and can interact with other medicines. We therefore always recommend that you consult with your own qualified health-care practitioner before using herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing or on any medications.

Kahikatea Farm cannot take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of the plants or a plant not having the effect it is reputed to have. 

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