Plant of the week

HAWTHORN, CRATAEGUS MONOGYNA

A HUMBLE plant this week but one with serious garden value. Hawthorn is the preferred hedging plant, not just for farmers but for country gardens too. You can grow hawthorn as a lovely freestanding tree or trim it often for a dense hedge. The white May blossoms make hedgerows especially beautiful this month. The blood-red autumn berries or haws are also attractive and valuable to hungry birds. If you prefer fancy hawthorns, try Crataegus Paul’s Scarlet which has double red blossoms, but is sterile. I grow Crimson Cloud whose single red flowers are prettier and fertile.