Hawthorne is a tree. Hawthorne berries grow on the hawthorne tree.

• botanical information
• part used
• nutritional information
• magick correspondences and uses
• ritual uses
• ancient myths and beliefs
• Goddesses and deities
• Chinese herbology
• cautions and contraindications

botanical information:

    Botanical name: Crataegus oxyacantha.

    Common name: hawthorn, hawthorne

    Use the botanical name when ordering seeds (bulbs, etc.) or when looking up information in the library. Common names vary by nation, culture, and region, and sometimes the same common name is applied to different plants.

part used:

Part Used (hawthorn berries): The whole berry, dried, crushed and powdered. Information courtesy of Mountain Rose Herbs

Part Used (hawthorn leaf and flower): Leaf, flower, and stem. Information courtesy of Mountain Rose Herbs

nutritional information:

    See also Chinese herbalism below for Chinese gender and Chinese flavor.

The parts of the Hawthorne tree used are its flowers, leaves and berries. Rich in bioflavonoids, hawthorne berries have been used for thousands of years in China to treat indigestion and is widely known as a diuretic. Since the 17th century, hawthorne has been used to treat various heart conditions and today is believed to lower blood pressure. —courtesy of Austin Nutritional research

magickal correspondences and uses:

    Month: Hawthorne is associated with May.

    Gender: masculine (traditional western European magickal gender)

Magical Uses Hawthorn: chastity, fertility, fishing, happiness Hawthorn Berries: Also known as the May tree. The small berries are wrinkled and red and perfect for adding to your Beltane altar for May day offerings. Add to amulets for power & strength of the ancient Druids. information courtesy of

ritual uses:

    Nine Woods: Hawthorn is one of the nine woods traditionally placed in the traditional Wiccan Witchcraft balefire. From one version of the Wiccan Rede: “Hawthorn is burned to purify; And to draw faerie to your eye.”

ancient myths and beliefs:

    The Hawthorn Moon or Huath (H) Moon is the sixth month of the Beth-Luis-Nion Celtic (Druidic) calendar, running from May 13 to June 9.

deities associated with hawthorne:

• Cardea (Roman Goddess)

Chinese herbalism:

    Chinese gender: slightly yang (warm)

    Chinese flavor: sour

cautions and contraindications:

    Non-toxic to animals: The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Animal Poison Control Center has determined that black hawthorn, English hawthorn, hawthorn, red hawthorne, and Washington hawthorn “have not been reported as having systemic effects on animals or as having intense effects on the gastrointestinal tract.” —ASPCA

    Wild gathering: Avoid wild gathering. Some plants are endangered species. Please grow your own herbs in your own goddess garden.

See also: food, herbs, and trees.

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