Friday Foraging #158 - 18th July 2025

Friday Foraging

Hawthorn Leaves & Berries

One of the most common plants in the UK, so you know you are going to find it! The leaves are available from early spring with the flowers coming soon after and then berries appear in the summer but don’t pick them until they are ripe in September/October.

It is known by many names such as the Haw, May Tree, Pixie’s Pears, Whitehorn and many more. It’s botanical name is Crataegus monogyna and it belongs to the rose family.

Hawthorn is a deciduous shrub or small tree growing up to 6 m. It typically has a structure consisting of tangled masses of thorny branches. The leaves, resembling parsley, are lobed into three segments.

The flowers emit an almond-like fragrance and are small, white, with five petals. The fruit, which is red in colour and small in size, contains one stone, although other species may have more. Be ware when picking the berries that you are picking those from a hawthorn and not the Rowan, the berries look alike, although the leaves are very different.

It is steeped in numerous traditions and folklore, earning its reputation as a fairy tree cherished by hedge witches.

Young shoots and unopened flower buds were once known as ‘bread and cheese’. Though much healthier, and unfortunately they taste of neither. The berries, known as Haws, bear a resemblance to mild apples, although their flesh is notably dense and dry. They are particularly suitable for making delicious jellies to accompany cheese, and can serve as an excellent substitute for ketchup. Haws have also found their place in the production of country wines and homemade schnapps, adding their unique flavour and medicinal properties to these beverages.

In addition, the leaves, flowers, and berries of the hawthorn can be used to make an herbal tea.

When foraging for the berries, be aware that the seeds contain cyanogenic compound known as amygdalin. As a result, consumption of these seeds should be avoided.