Plant Details

Crataegus azarolus

Eastern Mayhaw, May hawthorn, Mayhaw, Apple Hawthorn

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Common names

37 names · 20 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Apple Hawthorn
  • Azarole[2]
  • Azarole Hawthorn[2]
+4 more namesShow fewer names
  • Eastern Mayhaw
  • May hawthorn
  • Mayhaw
  • Mediterranean medlar[2]
Other languages (19)
Dutch
  • Azarooldoorn
French
  • Azerolier[2]
  • Azérolier
  • Épine d'Espagne[2]
Arabic
  • زعرور شائع[2]
  • زعرور معروف[2]
Catalan
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 地中海山楂[2]
Czech
  • hloh středozemský[2]
Estonian
  • õun-viirpuu[2]
Finnish
  • etelänorapihlaja[2]
German
  • Azaroldorn[1]
Greek
  • Κουδομηλιά[2]
  • Κράταιγος ο Αζαρόλος[2]
  • Μοσφιλιά[2]
+6 more namesShow fewer names
  • Μουρζιά[2]
  • Μπουρμπουτζελιά[2]
  • Ξαγκαθιά[2]
  • Ξανθή τσαπουρνιά[2]
  • Τρικοκκιά[2]
  • Τσιατσιά[2]
Hebrew
  • עוזרר אדום[2]
Italian
Kurdish
  • گۆیژی زەرد[2]
Persian
  • زالزالک، زالزالک مدیترانه ای[2]
Russian
  • Боярышник азароль[2]
Slovak
  • hloh stredomorský[2]
Spanish
Swedish
  • azarolhagtorn[2]
Turkish
  • Müzmüldek[2]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Crataegus azarolus L. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Azaroldorn (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 171910; taxon Z7SB.
[2] Crataegus azarolus — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Azarole — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 191019; Crataegus azarolus.
  • õun-viirpuu — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 191019; Crataegus azarolus.
  • Épine d'Espagne — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 191019; Crataegus azarolus.
  • hloh středozemský — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 191019; Crataegus azarolus.
  • زعرور شائع — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 191019; Crataegus azarolus.
  • زعرور معروف — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 191019; Crataegus azarolus.
  • Μοσφιλιά — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 191019; Crataegus azarolus.
  • Κράταιγος ο Αζαρόλος — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 191019; Crataegus azarolus.
  • Κουδομηλιά — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 191019; Crataegus azarolus.
  • Τρικοκκιά — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 191019; Crataegus azarolus.
  • Μουρζιά — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 191019; Crataegus azarolus.
  • Μπουρμπουτζελιά — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 191019; Crataegus azarolus.
  • Ξανθή τσαπουρνιά — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 191019; Crataegus azarolus.
  • Τσιατσιά — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 191019; Crataegus azarolus.
  • Ξαγκαθιά — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 191019; Crataegus azarolus.
  • Azzeruolo — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 191019; Crataegus azarolus.
  • Azerolier — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 191019; Crataegus azarolus.
  • Боярышник азароль — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 191019; Crataegus azarolus.
  • Azarole Hawthorn — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 191019; Crataegus azarolus.
  • Atzeroler — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 191019; Crataegus azarolus.
  • Müzmüldek — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 191019; Crataegus azarolus.
  • azarolhagtorn — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 191019; Crataegus azarolus.
  • Mediterranean medlar — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 191019; Crataegus azarolus.
  • עוזרר אדום — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 191019; Crataegus azarolus.
  • etelänorapihlaja — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 191019; Crataegus azarolus.
  • زالزالک، زالزالک مدیترانه ای — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 191019; Crataegus azarolus.
  • 地中海山楂 — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 191019; Crataegus azarolus.
  • acerolo — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 191019; Crataegus azarolus.
  • hloh stredomorský — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 191019; Crataegus azarolus.
  • گۆیژی زەرد — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 191019; Crataegus azarolus.

General information

Scientific name: Crataegus azarolus
Accepted name (Kew): Crataegus azarolus L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Rosaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Crataegus (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Eastern Mayhaw, May hawthorn, Mayhaw, Apple Hawthorn

Plant characteristics

Layer: Fruit tree, Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 9.00 m
Spread: 8.00 m
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Deciduous

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 5-9
Soil moisture:
Moist, Wet
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Partial shade, Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit
Edibility rating:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Fragrant

Description

The fruit can be eaten raw or processed in pies, preserves, and other recipes. It can be used both fresh and dried, as it has a pleasant sour taste. In warm temperate regions, the fruit develops more fruit sugars, resulting in a fragrant, sugary pulp with a slightly sour flavor. It can be eaten directly from the hand. In cooler areas, the fruit develops less well, and it is better to cook it or process it into preserves. The fruit varies greatly in size and color, with a diameter of up to 25 mm. In the center of the fruit, there are up to five fairly large seeds, which often stick together, making it look as if you are eating a cherry-like fruit with only one seed.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 15/09
Harvest ends: 31/10

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 840805; name ID 2944742; Crataegus L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 833402; name ID 2907721; Crataegus azarolus L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Crataegus azarolus

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 5398221, ID Z7SB: Crataegus azarolus L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .