Chinese haw, Mountain Hawthorn
Crataegus pinnatifida
Family: Rosaceae
What it is like
A small tree. It grows 6 m high and spreads 6 m wide. The leaves are bright green and have lobes. There can be 9 lobes and they have teeth. The leaves are pale green underneath and they turn yellow in autumn. The flowers are white. The fruit occur in clusters and are bright red. There are several named cultivated varieties.
There are 200 or more Crataegus species.
Where it is found
Temperate. It will grow in most soils. It needs an open sunny position. It is resistant to drought and frost. In northern China it grows between 100-2,000 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 6-9.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Australia, China (country/location of origin), Korea, Mongolia, North America, USA
How it is used for food
The fruit are cooked and made into jellies, drinks and candied. They are also eaten raw. The fruit are toffee coated and sold threaded in slivers of bamboo. Fruit are used for wine. The young leaves are steamed with flour and eaten in soups.
It is grown commercially for its fruit. They are sold in local markets.
Edible parts
Fruit, leaves
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seed. The seed need cold treatment. Plants can also be grafted. This is used where varieties selected for their fruit are used.
Its other names
Local names
Chohor dolon, Dolugun-a, Hung-kuo, Shan-cha, Shan li hong, Shanzha, Si pu a si