Species library · Plants & herbs

Foraging Hawthorn

Crataegus monogyna

Typically in season from February to November, peaking around February to October in the northern hemisphere. Found in Scrub & hedgerows, Woodland edges. Has toxic lookalikes, so check carefully.

Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)

Photo: no rights reserved, uploaded by Mirela · iNaturalist

When Hawthorn is in season

Typical window in the northern hemisphere, peak February to October. The southern hemisphere runs about six months offset, and your own timing depends on local weather, so check your town.

→ Everything in season to forage in September

Where it grows

Hawthorn is usually found in Scrub & hedgerows, Woodland edges.

⚠ Look-alikes & safety

Toxic look-alikes: Wall cotoneaster, Firethorn, European holly. Only forage with a confident ID.

Take Hawthorn into the field

Open Hawthorn in the Forage app for its full field guide entry with more photos, key features and toxic lookalikes to check against. Add it to your watchlist and the app pings you the moment it comes into season at your exact spot, worked out from live weather, elevation and billions of occurrence records.

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Hawthorn: common questions

When is Hawthorn in season?

Hawthorn is generally in season from February to November, with its peak around February to October in temperate northern regions. The exact timing shifts with latitude, elevation and each year's weather. Check the Season Finder for your own location.

Where does Hawthorn grow?

Hawthorn is usually found in Scrub & hedgerows, Woodland edges.

Is Hawthorn safe to forage?

Toxic look-alikes: Wall cotoneaster, Firethorn, European holly. Only forage with a confident ID. Never eat any wild plant, berry, nut or mushroom unless you are completely certain of the identification. Check every find against a reliable field guide, and when in doubt, don't.

One note before you head out

Forage helps you discover and identify wild plants, but identification is never 100% certain. Many edible plants have toxic lookalikes. Never eat anything you find based only on what this app tells you. Always confirm with a field guide, an experienced forager or a local expert. The season score tells you where to look, too: it’s not a guarantee. Mind conservation law and property rights as well.

Species photos via Wikimedia Commons and iNaturalist · full credits