Tree · Rosaceae family · with preparation per the EMAornamental and medicinal · also in Medicinal herbs
common hawthorn
Crataegus monogyna
In short a 10-second read
Common hawthorn (tree) grows to 4–9 m tall and 3–6 m wide when mature. It grows best in full sun, in dry to average soil. It flowers in May; the flowers are white. Hardy to −29 °C.
× spread 3–6 m
Where to plant
Sun, soil, frost.
It grows best in full sun, in dry to average soil. Hardy to −29 °C.
Sun
Elsewhere it will grow less well.
Soil and water
dry to average · watering: moderate
Soil: loamy, sandy
Soil pH 5.5–8
Frost
It copes with a normal winter outdoors.
How much space it takes
Mature size.
The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).
Next to a person
Reaches maturity in about 10–20 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.
Calendar
What to do and when.
Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.
The year at a glance
Flowers
May · white
Pruning
No pruning needed — just remove dead or damaged parts (June–August).
Planting
container plant: October–April; bare-root: October–March; root-balled: October–March
Winter protection
not needed
Overwintering
It copes with winter on its own.
It overwinters outdoors without protection, hardy to −29 °C.
- Needs no protection
- Hardy to −29 °C
- Deciduous — bare in winter
Frequently asked
Quick answers.
When does common hawthorn flower?
In May; the flowers are white.
Does common hawthorn tolerate shade?
No, it needs full sun.
How much space does common hawthorn need?
At maturity 3–6 m wide and 4–9 m tall; recommended spacing 500 cm.
Does common hawthorn survive winter outdoors?
Yes, without protection, hardy to −29 °C.
Where the data comes from
We compared the data in 19 expert sources. Last checked 18 October 2026.
Show sources (19)
- Oregon State University Landscape Plants — Crataegus monogyna
- Van den Berk Nurseries (NL), stromová škôlka — Crataegus monogyna
- GBIF Occurrence Search API — Crataegus monogyna
- EPPO Global Database — Crataegus monogyna
- RHS - Watering
- EMA/HMPC - Crataegi folium cum flore (herbal medicine)
- EMA/HMPC - monografia Crataegi folium cum flore (EMA/HMPC/159075/2014)
- RHS - Crataegus monogyna
- RHS - Shrubs and trees: light pruning
- RHS - Silver leaf
- RHS - Trees and shrubs: planting
- Clemson HGIC - Planting Trees Correctly
- RHS - How to grow trees
- Invasive plant lists — this species is not on them: EU, Slovakia, Czechia, Germany, Poland, Denmark
Similar plants
Have a look at these too.
Preparation and use · common hawthorn
How to prepare it.
According to the monograph of the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
part: leaf with flower
For: temporary nervous heart complaints (e.g. palpitations) once a doctor has excluded serious conditions EMA 4.1For whom: From 18 years · adults, elderly EMA 4.2
- What you use
- Herb EMA 4.2
- How it is used
- By mouth EMA 4.2
- Single dose
- 1–2 g of dried leaves with flowers in 150 ml of boiling water EMA 4.2
- How often
- Up to 4× a day EMA 4.2
- Daily maximum
- At most 6 g a day EMA 4.2
- How long
- If symptoms last longer than 2 weeks or get worse, see a doctor. EMA 4.2
Method
- 1
Put 1–2 g of dried leaves with flowers in a cup.
EMA 4.2 - 2
Pour over 150 ml of boiling water.
EMA 4.2 - 3
Steep for 5–15 min.
EMA/HMPC/5829/201010:00 - 4
Drink up to 4× a day.
EMA 4.2 - 5
No more than 6 g a day.
EMA 4.2
part: leaf with flower
Powdered herb from a pharmacy
A ready-made product. The exact method is in the package leaflet.
For: temporary nervous heart complaints (e.g. palpitations) once a doctor has excluded serious conditions EMA 4.1For whom: From 18 years · adults, elderly EMA 4.2
- What you use
- Powdered herb EMA 2
- How it is used
- By mouth EMA 4.2
- Single dose
- 190–350 mg EMA 4.2
- Daily total
- 570–1,750 mg a day EMA 4.2
- How long
- If symptoms last longer than 2 weeks or get worse, see a doctor. EMA 4.2
Powdered herb — temporary nervous heart complaints (e.g. palpitations) once a doctor has excluded serious conditions: 190–350 mg of powdered leaves and flowers, daily dose 570–1750 mg. For adults and the elderly (from 18 years). If symptoms last longer than 2 weeks, see a doctor. EMA 2
For: mild symptoms of stress and to aid sleep EMA 4.1For whom: From 12 years · adolescents, adults, elderly EMA 4.2
- What you use
- Powdered herb EMA 2
- How it is used
- By mouth EMA 4.2
- Single dose
- 190–350 mg EMA 4.2
- Daily total
- 570–1,750 mg a day EMA 4.2
- How long
- If symptoms last longer than 2 weeks or get worse, see a doctor. EMA 4.2
Powdered herb — mild symptoms of stress and to aid sleep: 190–350 mg of powdered leaves and flowers, daily dose 570–1750 mg. For adolescents, adults and the elderly (from 12 years). If symptoms last longer than 2 weeks, see a doctor. EMA 2
part: fresh leaves with flowers
Expressed juice from a pharmacy
A ready-made product. The exact method is in the package leaflet.
For: temporary nervous heart complaints (e.g. palpitations) once a doctor has excluded serious conditions EMA 4.1For whom: From 18 years · adults, elderly EMA 4.2
- What you use
- Expressed juice EMA 2
- How it is used
- By mouth EMA 4.2
- Herb : juice ratio
- 1 : 0.63–0.9 EMA 2
- Single dose
- 7 ml EMA 4.2
- Daily total
- 21 ml a day EMA 4.2
- How long
- If symptoms last longer than 2 weeks or get worse, see a doctor. EMA 4.2
Expressed juice — temporary nervous heart complaints (e.g. palpitations) once a doctor has excluded serious conditions: 7 ml of juice expressed from the fresh leaves and flowers (DER 1:0.63–0.9), daily dose 21 ml. For adults and the elderly (from 18 years). If symptoms last longer than 2 weeks, see a doctor. EMA 2
For: temporary nervous heart complaints (e.g. palpitations) once a doctor has excluded serious conditions EMA 4.1For whom: From 18 years · adults, elderly EMA 4.2
- What you use
- Expressed juice EMA 2
- How it is used
- By mouth EMA 4.2
- Herb : juice ratio
- 1 : 0.9–1.1 EMA 2
- Single dose
- 2.4 ml EMA 4.2
- Daily total
- 7.5 ml a day EMA 4.2
- How long
- If symptoms last longer than 2 weeks or get worse, see a doctor. EMA 4.2
Expressed juice — temporary nervous heart complaints (e.g. palpitations) once a doctor has excluded serious conditions: 2.4 ml of juice expressed from the fresh leaves and flowers (DER 1:0.9–1.1), daily dose 7.5 ml. For adults and the elderly (from 18 years). If symptoms last longer than 2 weeks, see a doctor. EMA 2
part: leaf with flower
Tincture from a pharmacy
For: temporary nervous heart complaints (e.g. palpitations) once a doctor has excluded serious conditions EMA 4.1For whom: From 18 years · adults, elderly EMA 4.2
- What you use
- Tincture EMA 2
- How it is used
- By mouth EMA 4.2
- Tincture
- 1 : 3.5–4.5, ethanol 35 % EMA 2
- Maceration
- 3 days pharmacopoeia (USP)
- Single dose
- 1.68 g EMA 4.2
- Daily total
- 5.1 g a day EMA 4.2
- How long
- If symptoms last longer than 2 weeks or get worse, see a doctor. EMA 4.2
Tincture — temporary nervous heart complaints (e.g. palpitations) once a doctor has excluded serious conditions: 1.68 g (tincture 1:3.5–4.5, ethanol 35 %; per the pharmacopoeia, macerate for 3 days), daily dose 5.1 g. For adults and the elderly (from 18 years). If symptoms last longer than 2 weeks, see a doctor. EMA 2
Dosage
| Form | Single dose | How often | For whom | How long | Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Herbal tea (infusion)at homepart: leaf with flowerfor: temporary nervous heart complaints (e.g. palpitations) once a doctor has excluded serious conditions | 1–2 g of dried leaves with flowers in 150 ml of boiling water EMA 4.2 | up to 4× a day | From 18 years · adults, elderly | longer than 2 weeks → see a doctor EMA 4.2 | Daily maximum: at most 6 g a day EMA 4.2 |
| Powdered herbfrom a pharmacypart: leaf with flowerfor: temporary nervous heart complaints (e.g. palpitations) once a doctor has excluded serious conditions | 190–350 mg EMA 4.2 | 570–1,750 mg a day in total EMA 4.2 | From 18 years · adults, elderly | longer than 2 weeks → see a doctor EMA 4.2 | |
| Powdered herbfrom a pharmacypart: leaf with flowerfor: mild symptoms of stress and to aid sleep | 190–350 mg EMA 4.2 | 570–1,750 mg a day in total EMA 4.2 | From 12 years · adolescents, adults, elderly | longer than 2 weeks → see a doctor EMA 4.2 | |
| Expressed juicefrom a pharmacypart: fresh leaves with flowersfor: temporary nervous heart complaints (e.g. palpitations) once a doctor has excluded serious conditions | 7 ml EMA 4.2 | 21 ml a day in total EMA 4.2 | From 18 years · adults, elderly | longer than 2 weeks → see a doctor EMA 4.2 | Herb : juice ratio: 1 : 0.63–0.9 EMA 2 |
| Expressed juicefrom a pharmacypart: fresh leaves with flowersfor: temporary nervous heart complaints (e.g. palpitations) once a doctor has excluded serious conditions | 2.4 ml EMA 4.2 | 7.5 ml a day in total EMA 4.2 | From 18 years · adults, elderly | longer than 2 weeks → see a doctor EMA 4.2 | Herb : juice ratio: 1 : 0.9–1.1 EMA 2 |
| Tincturefrom a pharmacy or at home ↓part: leaf with flowerfor: temporary nervous heart complaints (e.g. palpitations) once a doctor has excluded serious conditions | 1.68 g EMA 4.2 | 5.1 g a day in total EMA 4.2 | From 18 years · adults, elderly | longer than 2 weeks → see a doctor EMA 4.2 | Tincture: 1 : 3.5–4.5, ethanol 35 % EMA 2 |
| Children under 12: not recommended EMA 4.2 | |||||
How long
If symptoms last longer than 2 weeks or get worse, see a doctor. EMA 4.2
Who should not use it
- Children under 12: not recommended EMA 4.2
- If hypersensitive (allergic) to this plant EMA 4.3
- During pregnancy and breastfeeding (not recommended) EMA 4.6
Cautions
- Only after a doctor has excluded serious conditions. EMA 4.1
- If ankles or legs swell, pain occurs around the heart (spreading to arms, upper abdomen or neck) or breathing becomes difficult, see a doctor immediately. EMA 4.4
- If symptoms get worse, see a doctor. EMA 4.4
- The tincture contains alcohol (ethanol). EMA 4.4
- If you take any medicines, ask a doctor or pharmacist. GridGarden
- Do not drive after taking it. GridGarden
Home-made tincture · per the EMA
Tincture at home.
The EMA also lists a tincture. This is how to make it from dried herb from your bed.
Weigh
of dried leaves with flowers, chopped
calculated · 1 : 3.5–4.5Cover with alcohol
ethanol 35 %, in a glass jar
EMA 2Leave to steep
close the jar, keep it in the dark and shake it now and then
pharmacopoeia (USP)Use
adults only
EMA 4.2Before taking the tincture
The tincture contains alcohol. Read this before use:
- Adults onlyEMA 4.2
- If hypersensitive (allergic) to this plantEMA 4.3
- During pregnancy and breastfeeding (not recommended)EMA 4.6
- The tincture contains alcohol (ethanol).EMA 4.4
- Only after a doctor has excluded serious conditions.EMA 4.1
- If ankles or legs swell, pain occurs around the heart (spreading to arms, upper abdomen or neck) or breathing becomes difficult, see a doctor immediately.EMA 4.4
- If symptoms get worse, see a doctor.EMA 4.4
- If you take any medicines, ask a doctor or pharmacist.GridGarden
- Do not drive after taking it.GridGarden
Source: EMA/HMPC monograph EMA/HMPC/159075/2014 · Steeping days and straining