Hawthorn

Hawthorn is a very good melliferous plant, whose fragrant flowers are visited by a wide range of insects collecting nectar and pollen. Its fruits also attract many birds.

Hawthorn is a tree belonging to the Rosaceae family, the same family as the apple tree and a large proportion of common fruit trees; its botanical name is Crataegus monogyna. It is often planted to form hedges and is found everywhere – in towns, in the countryside, in woodlands, in mid-mountain areas and even in coastal zones – as it adapts to all types of soil. Its glossy, deeply lobed leaves and its white flowers lightly tinged with pink provide a highly decorative display.

The apicultural value of hawthorn is very high, mainly due to its nectar production; the brown-green pollen is also appreciated by bees. Hawthorn nectar mainly enriches spring wildflower honeys but can, in certain regions and under favourable climatic conditions, produce a pale yellow monofloral honey with fine, slow crystallisation and a fruity flavour. As the hawthorn flow often occurs at the end of the oilseed rape flow, a mixture of the two honeys is common.

Like many rosaceous plants, hawthorn is susceptible to fire blight, a serious bacterial disease that can cause plants to decline very rapidly. Hawthorn is therefore directly threatened by this scourge; however, as it can itself act as a vector of the disease, the main risk lies in the successive contamination of other fruit trees (which also involves bees through their foraging activity). To prevent such damage, plants must be inspected regularly in order to detect the early onset of infestation.

Beyond its apicultural value, hawthorn has other beneficial properties, owing to the substances contained in its leaves, flowers and fruits. Frequently used in phytotherapy in the form of tinctures, decoctions or infusions, they are thought to be active against hypertension and against the accumulation of undesirable fats – including cholesterol – in the blood; they are also said to have a nervous sedative effect and to be beneficial for heart health as well as digestion. Even the fruits, which have a structure similar to that of apples and are rich in antioxidants, can be consumed. However, plant extracts may cause nausea and fatigue in sensitive individuals. Caution is also advised regarding possible interactions with certain medications. Hawthorn honey, on the other hand, does not have these drawbacks and is even said to have beneficial effects against insomnia!

Sources

T. Silberfeld, C. Reeb, Les plantes mellifères, 2016

Various authors, Giardinaggio senza problemi, Guida completa del Reader’s Digest, 1981

J. Piquée, Les plantes mellifères mois par mois, 2014

Various authors, Le traité Rustica de l’apiculture, 2002