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Hawthorn is an ornamental fruit shrub whose berries have beneficial properties. However, not all varieties are classified as medicinal. Today there are more than 300 species of hawthorn. Each has characteristics and differences not only in appearance and taste, but also in adaptability to certain conditions. To decide on the type of shrub to plant, it is important to consider the types of hawthorn with photos and names. Having familiarized yourself with detailed information about each of them, you can make the right choice and plant a plant that will take root well in a certain climatic zone.
Description of hawthorn
Hawthorn is a spherical shrub that grows in height from 2 to 12 m. Often its size depends on the variety and pruning of branches. The shoots almost always have thorns, so the formation of the bush is carried out using special mittens.
The crown of the bush is round and wide.The leaves can be of different shapes and sizes, depending on the variety planted: from pinnately lobed to dissected. Fruit color ranges from yellow to red. The bark is brown, the leaves are green. Closer to autumn, the green mass acquires burgundy shades.
Types of hawthorn
Hawthorn belongs to the Rosaceae family. Types and varieties differ in decorative qualities. Each has a different color, size and shape of the fruit. It is worth noting that there are differences in productivity, drought resistance, and frost resistance. Some species prefer sunny places, others grow well in the shade.
Types of hawthorn in Russia
About 50 varieties and species of hawthorn grow in Russia. Some of the most popular are Siberian and Blood Red. This list also includes:
- Round-leaved – the fruits of this variety look like small apples with a sweet taste. The height of the bush is up to 6 m, frost-resistant, can withstand prolonged absence of watering;
- pinnately cut – plant height can reach 7 m. There are practically no thorns on the bushes. The fruits are small in size and red in color;
- Pontic – shrubs are planted in warm areas. The fruits are yellow with small white patches. Bush height – 4-5 m;
- Ordinary – grows up to 7 m in height, has red berries with a pleasant taste. Useful decoctions and infusions are prepared from this species;
- Fan – distinguished by bright red berries with orange pulp. Maximum height – 6 m. Fan-shaped bushes with a small number of thorns. It is recommended to wear mittens when harvesting fruits.
The bush is famous for its double buds.The bush practically does not produce berries, and if it bears fruit, the fruits have different shapes and sizes. This variety is a decorative one, which is used to decorate a garden plot. Paul Scarlet is unpretentious in care, requires regular pruning of branches and occasional fertilizing.
Types of medicinal hawthorn
Many people know that hawthorn has medicinal properties, however, this effect cannot be achieved from every variety. Medicinal drugs include:
- Blood red;
- Garden;
- Ordinary.
Photos and descriptions of each type of hawthorn will help you quickly decide on planting shrubs on your site.
Blood red
The fruits of this shrub are regularly used to treat mental disorders and diseases of the cardiovascular system. Infusions from fruits help cleanse blood vessels and improve blood circulation. This variety is widespread throughout Russia. The blood-red hawthorn is short and bears bright red, medium-sized berries. The main feature of the variety is its ease of care.
Ordinary
Fruit-based decoctions normalize blood pressure and improve overall well-being. The berries contain a huge amount of vitamins, so in case of vitamin deficiency, tea from the fruits can compensate for the lack of nutrients. Common hawthorn adapts well to various conditions, is frost-resistant, and can withstand prolonged drought. The fruits are red, shoots with a small number of thorns.
Garden
This plant belongs to the large-fruited medicinal varieties. The berries are orange-red in color, medium in shape. The flowers are white, neatly collected in lush buds. The main advantage of the shrub is its pleasant taste.Garden hawthorn prefers sunny areas, so it is recommended to plant the bush away from plantings that create shade. It is also important to prune regularly to encourage new growth to form. Formation is carried out in early spring until the buds open.
Hawthorn varieties
There are a huge number of types and varieties of hawthorn, so it is important to look at the photo for each shrub. Plants that have been included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements are regularly used for planting in summer cottages. These types include: Beads and Gift of Kuminova.
However, the list does not end there. Today, enough varieties have been studied that are perfectly suitable for cultivation throughout almost the entire territory of Russia.
Varieties of large-fruited hawthorn
There are quite a lot of varieties of large-fruited shrubs. Most species are soft varieties. The berries of such shrubs have a pleasant taste.
Common varieties of large-fruited plants include Eastern Orange. The weight of the fruit can reach 20 g. The main advantage is the absence of thorns on the shoots. The fruits are orange in color and taste like apples.
Maksimovich
Grows in Siberia and the Far East. The height of the bush can reach 7.5 m, and there are thorns on the shoots. The flowers are white and form burgundy berries, which contain huge amounts of sugar. Maksimovich's hawthorn does not require special care. It will be enough for the shrub to carry out preventive pruning of the branches.
Amursky
This species has fruits of a golden hue, and there are a small number of thorns on the shoots. Unpretentious in care, needs organic feeding.
Softish
The variety was bred in America. The height of the bush can reach 9 m.This variety is decorative and is often used in landscape design. The berries are quite large in size with a pleasant taste.
pinnately cut
This species is frost-resistant, however, the plant does not tolerate prolonged absence of moisture. This variety is very popular throughout Russia. The maximum height of the bush is 6.5 m. Flowering begins in June. The flowers are white. The fruits are large, formed closer to August-September.
Timiryazevets
Many summer residents celebrate another variety - Timiryazevets. The plant looks like a spreading tree that has a straight trunk. The branches are slightly drooping, the berries are red and medium in size. The plant is unpretentious in care and requires a minimum of activities. Timiryazevets does not need winter shelter; it cannot tolerate prolonged drought.
Daursky
The Daurian variety can be found in the Far East and in some areas of Eastern Siberia. Daurian hawthorn grows up to 7 m high. The shoots have small thorns and are lilac in color. The leaves have a pointed end, the berries are medium-sized and red. Tolerates drought well and is frost-resistant.
Delicious varieties of hawthorn
Tasty varieties of hawthorn often include large-fruited species. However, not every plant that has large berries has a pleasant taste. Below are the most popular varieties of the plant that are regularly eaten and used in various recipes.
Chinese
The shrub was bred in China and is popular in Japan, Korea and other countries. The plant can often be found in the Far East. It is heat-loving and does not tolerate severe frosts.Chinese hawthorn is a shrub that completely lacks thorns, which is very convenient for harvesting. The leaves are green, the fruits are red with white spots.
Chinese hawthorn does not require special care. When properly formed, the bush gives a bountiful harvest. The weight of the berry can reach 20 g. The taste of the fruit is sweet with a slight sourness. The berries have a high shelf life. Can be stored for more than six months.
Canadian red
This species belongs to the late-ripening varieties of hawthorn. The fruits are large and purple. The berries are very tasty and are often used to make juices. The main advantage of this variety is that ripe fruits do not fall off the tree.
Pontic
This species is noted by gardeners as the most delicious. The maximum height of the plant is 11 m. The crown of the bush is spreading, with pubescent shoots. The pulp of the berries is very juicy with a pleasant aroma. The fruits are sweet, with light notes of sourness. It is useful to eat raw or processed.
Far Eastern green meat
Belongs to early varieties; the first berries can be seen in July. The color of the fruit is black, greenish inside. The berries of the Far Eastern green-meat hawthorn are used for making drinks and consumed fresh.
Crimean
Among the popular types of hawthorn, Crimean one can also be noted. The plant grows in the form of a small tree. Based on the name, it can be noted that the shrub comes from Crimea. Prefers to grow away from other plantings. Gives good fruit when planted on slopes and rocky areas.
Hawthorn varieties for the Moscow region
To grow hawthorn in central Russia and the Moscow region, it is important to know the varieties that will take root well in these regions. Amateur gardeners are advised to pay attention to the following:
- Shamil;
- Zbigniew;
- Lyudmil.
Shamil
The plant has geniculate shoots with brown thorns. The leaves are rough, quite large, oblong in shape. The berries are round and medium in size. The color of the fruit is red with small white patches. Sweet to taste, with slight sourness. Shamil hawthorn begins to bear fruit in early October. This species is valued for the high taste of its fruit.
From 1 mature tree you can collect more than 10 kg of fruit. The main advantage of the Shamil species is its low susceptibility to diseases and insects. Shrubs are practically not susceptible to fungal infections and other diseases.
Zbigniew
This species is very similar to Shamil hawthorn. However, the plant has an earlier ripening period. Closer to August, many fruits form on the bush. Due to their high taste, they are suitable for human consumption.
Lyudmil
The shrub has straight shoots of a grayish tint. There are practically no thorns on the branches. The leaves are medium in size and smooth in structure. The berries are cone-shaped with a small amount of white inclusions. The pulp of the Lyudmil variety is juicy and has a neutral taste. These fruits are used to prepare infusions and decoctions. The bush has large berries that have a high shelf life.
Conclusion
Having examined the types of hawthorn with photos and names, you can quickly decide on the choice for planting in your summer cottage. By choosing a plant for a specific growing region, you can avoid a lot of hassle in caring for it.It is worth noting that many plants are medicinal species. However, to achieve a therapeutic effect, it is important not only to plant the bush, but also to properly prepare healthy infusions from the fruits.
