Downy hawthorn seeds

Northern downy hawthorn, northern red haw, Quebec hawthorn, or hairy cockspurthorn / Crataegus submollis - the nature of growth depends on growing conditions and pruning. In open areas, it is a small tree with a spreading crown up to 8 meters high. Any damage stimulates the intensive growth of additional shoots, which allows pruning to form a multi-stemmed tree or tall dense shrub.

The branches are covered with numerous strong spines 4–5 (up to 10) centimeters long. The leaves are dark green, young densely pubescent, rather large (up to 10 centimeters long and 7 centimeters wide).

Soft hawthorn blooms in early June, white flowers up to 2.5 centimeters in diameter, collected in corymbose inflorescences.

In mid-September, large, up to 2 centimeters in diameter, orange-red berries ripen, collected in heavy brushes. The fruits of the soft hawthorn are characterized by juicy fragrant pulp, hard seeds occupy a small volume of the berry. Berries acquire a good taste only when fully ripe. Ripe berries crumble easily.

Fruits are consumed fresh, they are used to make jam, jelly.

The soft hawthorn is undemanding to soils, winter-hardy, smoke-gas-resistant, shade-tolerant, but bears fruit better in the light. Pests and diseases are practically not damaged. Handles pruning well.

Used as a fruit plant, the yield reaches several tens of kilograms from one hawthorn. One of the best plants for creating impenetrable hedges up to 7 meters high, the height is adjusted by pruning (there will be no abundant fruiting with low pruning).