Crataegus gemosa

Rosaceae: Rare small North American tree to 8 m (26ft 3in). Bearing white flowers and masses of red fruits, 12-15mm across, which are sweet and succulent. Found in rich forest glades or the margins of woods, usually in low rich soil. Native to Eastern North America - Vermont to Wisconsin, North Carolina and Iowa.

USES:

The fruit can be used raw or cooked. Borne in large clusters, the fruit it is about 12mm in diameter with a thick, sweet succulent flesh when fully ripe. The fruit can be used in making pies, preserves, and can also be dried for later use. There are up to five large seeds in the centre of the fruit, these often stick together and so the effect is of eating a cherry-like fruit with a single seed.

Although no specific mention has been seen for this species, the fruits and flowers of many hawthorns are well-known in herbal folk medicine as a heart tonic and modern research has borne out this use. The fruits and flowers have a hypotensive effect as well as acting as a direct and mild heart tonic. They are especially indicated in the treatment of weak heart combined with high blood pressure. Prolonged use is necessary for it to be efficacious. It is normally used either as a tea or a tincture.

GROWING INFORMATION:

Easily grown, preferring a well-drained moisture retentive loamy soil but is not at all fussy. Once established, it succeeds in excessively moist soils and tolerates drought. Full sun is best when plants are being grown for their fruit, they also succeed in semi-shade though fruit yields and quality will be lower in such a position. Seedlings should not be left in a seedbed for more than 2 years without being transplanted, also the seedling trees take from 5 - 8 years before they start bearing fruit.

Seeds are best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame, some of the seed will germinate in the spring, though most will probably take another year. Stored seed can be very slow and erratic to germinate, it should be warm stratified for 3 months at 15°C and then cold stratified for another 3 months at 4°C. It may still take another 18 months to germinate. Scarifying the seed before stratifying it might reduce this time.

HARVESTED: 2024

APPROX. 20 SEEDS