Plant Details

Crataegus tournefortii

Blue hawthorn

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Crataegus tournefortii.

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Common names

3 names · 3 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Blue hawthorn
Other languages (2)
Dutch
  • Blauwe meidoorn
French
  • Aubépine de Tournefort
Sources & name notes

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

General information

Scientific name: Crataegus tournefortii
Taxonomic placement (Kew): Crataegus orientalis subsp. orientalis View name reference ↗

The linked Blue Hawthorn source identifies Crataegus tournefortii Griseb. through C. schraderana Ledeb. Kew places that name in this subspecies. The original Blue Hawthorn identity is retained.

Sources [2] [3] [4]
Botanical family: Rosaceae

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

Sources [1]
Also known as: Blue hawthorn
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Fruit tree, Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 6.00 m
Spread: 5.00 m
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Deciduous

Growing conditions

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

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit
Edibility rating:
(5)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Wood

Description

Fruit - can be eaten both raw and cooked. This fruit is of reasonable size, with a diameter of about 15 to 20 mm. It is one of the most flavorful fruits I have tasted so far. When the fruit is ripe, it is juicy with a very pleasant taste and almost literally melts in the mouth. Personally, I prefer this fruit over strawberries. It ripens at the end of September and can stay in good condition on the tree for at least 4 weeks. The ripe fruit is so soft that it is best eaten fresh from the tree. The fruit can also be used to make pies, jams, and so on, and can be dried for later use. In the center of the fruit are up to five fairly large seeds, which often stay together, making the experience of eating the fruit resemble that of eating a cherry-like fruit with a single pit.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 15/08
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 family
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 840805; name ID 2944742; Crataegus L.. Family column.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Crataegus orientalis subsp. orientalis
    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: Name heading and taxonomic status; The linked Blue Hawthorn source explicitly identifies Crataegus tournefortii Griseb. via C. schraderana Ledeb. Kew includes that name in this subspecies. Photographs must retain the original tournefortii / schraderana identity.

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Crataegus tournefortii Griseb.
    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: Taxonomic synonyms or horticultural name section. The linked Blue Hawthorn source explicitly identifies Crataegus tournefortii Griseb. via C. schraderana Ledeb. Kew includes that name in this subspecies. Photographs must retain the original tournefortii / schraderana identity.

    Source checked on .

  4. Plants For A Future Crataegus schraderana - Ledeb.
    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: Catalogue source profile: authorship and name context only. The linked Blue Hawthorn source explicitly identifies Crataegus tournefortii Griseb. via C. schraderana Ledeb. Kew includes that name in this subspecies. Photographs must retain the original tournefortii / schraderana identity.

    Source checked on .