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Crataegus azarolus - L.

Azarole

Author	L.	Botanical references	11, 50, 200
Family	Rosaceae	Genus	Crataegus
Synonyms	Crataegus aronia - Bosc.
Known Hazards	None known
Range	S. Europe to W. Asia.
Habitat	Dry hillsides and mountains in woods and hedges[50].
Edibility Rating	4 (1-5)	Medicinal Rating	2 (1-5)

Physical Characteristics

A decidious Tree growing to 10m at a medium rate.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in heavy clay soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soil. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist or wet soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure. It can tolerate atmospheric pollution.

Habitats

Woodland Garden; Secondary; Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade;

Cultivars: (as above except)
'Fruto Blanco'
'Julieta'

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit.

Fruit - raw or cooked in pies, preserves etc[1, 2, 3, 11, 34, 183]. The fruit can be used fresh or dried for later use. A pleasant acid taste[89]. In warm temperate areas the fruit develops more fruit sugars and has a fragrant sugary pulp with a slightly acid flavour[183]. It can be eaten out of hand. In cooler zones, however, the fruit does not develop so well and is best cooked or used in preserves[183]. The fruit is very variable in size and colour, it is up to 25mm in diameter[200]. There are up to five fairly large seeds in the centre of the fruit, these often stick together and so the effect is of eating a cherry-like fruit with a single seed[K].

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

Cardiotonic; Hypotensive.

Although no specific mention has been seen for this species, the fruits and flowers of many hawthorns are well-known in herbal folk medicine as a heart tonic and modern research has borne out this use. The fruits and flowers have a hypotensive effect as well as acting as a direct and mild heart tonic[222]. They are especially indicated in the treatment of weak heart combined with high blood pressure[222]. Prolonged use is necessary for it to be efficacious[222]. It is normally used either as a tea or a tincture[222].

Other Uses

Wood - heavy, hard, tough, close-grained. Useful for making tool handles, mallets and other small items[82].

Scented Plants

Flowers: Fresh

The flowers have an unpleasant smell like decaying fish, though when freshly open they also have a pleasant balsamic undertone.

Cultivation details

A very easily grown plant, it prefers a well-drained moisture retentive loamy soil but is not at all fussy[11, 200]. Once established, it succeeds in excessively moist soils and also tolerates drought[200]. It grows well on a chalk soil and also in heavy clay soils[200]. A position in full sun is best when plants are being grown for their fruit, they also succeed in semi-shade though fruit yields and quality will be lower in such a position[11, 200]. Most members of this genus succeed in exposed positions, they also tolerate atmospheric pollution[200]. The azarole has long been cultivated for its edible fruit in S. Europe, though it is now going out of favour[3, 11]. There are some named varieties[46]. Seedling trees take from 5 - 8 years before they start bearing fruit, though grafted trees will often flower heavily in their third year[K]. The flowers have a foetid smell somewhat like decaying fish. This attracts midges which are the main means of fertilization. When freshly open, the flowers have more pleasant scent with balsamic undertones[245]. Hawthorns in general hybridize freely with other members of the genus[200]. Seedlings should not be left in a seedbed for more than 2 years without being transplanted[11].

Propagation

Seed - this is best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame, some of the seed will germinate in the spring, though most will probably take another year. Stored seed can be very slow and erratic to germinate, it should be warm stratified for 3 months at 15°c and then cold stratified for another 3 months at 4°c[164]. It may still take another 18 months to germinate[78]. Scarifying the seed before stratifying it might reduce this time[80]. Fermenting the seed for a few days in its own pulp may also speed up the germination process[K]. Another possibility is to harvest the seed 'green' (as soon as the embryo has fully developed but before the seedcoat hardens) and sow it immediately in a cold frame. If timed well, it can germinate in the spring[80]. If you are only growing small quantities of plants, it is best to pot up the seedlings as soon as they are large enough to handle and grow them on in individual pots for their first year, planting them out in late spring into nursery beds or their final positions. When growing larger quantities, it might be best to sow them directly outdoors in a seedbed, but with protection from mice and other seed-eating creatures. Grow them on in the seedbed until large enough to plant out, but undercut the roots if they are to be left undisturbed for more than two years.

Cultivars

'Julieta'

The small red fruit has a pleasant aromatic flavour[183]. It ripens in early to mid autumn[183].

Fruto Blanco''

The large white fruit has a pleasant aromatic flavour[183]. It ripens in early to mid autumn[183].

Links

This plant is also mentioned in the following PFAF articles: Crataegus Species - The Hawthorns..

References

[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[2] Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.

[3] Simmons. A. E. Growing Unusual Fruit. David and Charles 1972 ISBN 0-7153-5531-7
A very readable book with information on about 100 species that can be grown in Britain (some in greenhouses) and details on how to grow and use them.

[11] Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.

[34] Harrison. S. Wallis. M. Masefield. G. The Oxford Book of Food Plants. Oxford University Press 1975
Good drawings of some of the more common food plants from around the world. Not much information though.

[46] Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.

[50] ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964
An immense work in 6 volumes (including the index). The standard reference flora for europe, it is very terse though and with very little extra information. Not for the casual reader.

[78] Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948
A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.

[80] McMillan-Browse. P. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books 1985 ISBN 0-901361-21-6
Does not deal with many species but it is very comprehensive on those that it does cover. Not for casual reading.

[82] Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965 ISBN 0-486-20278-X
Two volumes, a comprehensive listing of N. American trees though a bit out of date now. Good details on habitats, some details on plant uses. Not really for the casual reader.

[89] Polunin. O. and Huxley. A. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press 1987 ISBN 0-7012-0784-1
A very readable pocket flora that is well illustrated. Gives some information on plant uses.

[164] Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan. 1990
Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation. A good article on Yuccas, one on Sagebrush (Artemesia spp) and another on Chaerophyllum bulbosum.

[183] Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[222] Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990 ISBN 0395467225
A concise book dealing with almost 500 species. A line drawing of each plant is included plus colour photographs of about 100 species. Very good as a field guide, it only gives brief details about the plants medicinal properties.

[245] Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.

Readers Comments

Plants for a Future does not verify the accuracy of reader comments, use at your own risk. In particular Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. You should always consult a professional before using plants medicinally.

Crataegus azarolus

Dr.Volodymyr Mezhenskyj Mon May 31 21:00:48 2004

Crataegus Cultivars

Dear Sirs,

I work with hawthorns as a new fruit crop. In 2001 the following pomological cultivars are included in the Register of Plant Varieties of the Ukraine: `Ljudmyl` - branches spineless, fruits orange red, 2-2.5 cm in diameter, weighing 4.5 (max 10) g, satisfactory taste, ripen in September; `Shamil` - branches with not numerous spines 3-4 cm in length, fruits red, 2 cm in diameter, weighing 4 (max 6) g, good taste, ripen in September; `Zbigniew` - branches with numerous spines 5-6 cm in length, fruits bright red, 2 cm in diameter, weighing 3,5 (max 5) g, good taste, ripen in August. The promising selection is `Zlat` - branches spineless, fruits yellow, up to 2 cm in diameter, weighing 3(max 4) g, good taste, ripen in September.

Dr.Volodymyr Mezhenskyj, Artemivsk Research Center of Institution of Horticulture, Opytne, Artemivsk, Donetska obl., 84571 UKRAINE

Crataegus azarolus

Stuart Peachey Fri Feb 9 2007

Does this 16-17th century variety still exist? Where can one obtain grafts if it does. 1597 Neopolitan Medlar (I: GH1454,PP569) [Crateagus Azerolus]. Synonyms: Aronia (GH1453,GH1454) Azarolo (GH1455) Three grained Medlar (GH1455) Medlar of Naples (I: PP569) (GH1455) 1597 "The Neapolitane Medlar tree groweth to the height and greatnesse of an Apple tree, having many tough and hard boughes or branches, set with sharp thornes like the white Thorne, or Hawthorne: the leaves are very much cut or jagged like the Hawthorne leaves, but greater, and more like Smallage or Parsley, which leaves before they fall from the tree do wax red: amongst these leaves come forth great tufts of floures of a pale herby colour: which being past, there succeed small long fruit lesser than the smallest Medlar, which at the first are hard, and greene of colour, but when they be ripe, they are both soft and red, of a sweet and pleasant taste: wherein is contained three small hard stones, as in the former, which be the kernels or seeds thereof." (GH1454) 1629 "The Medlar of Naples groweth likewise to bee a reasonable great tree, spreading forth armes and branches, whereon are set many gathered leaves, somewhat like unto Hawthorne leaves, but greater, and likewise divers thornes in many places: the flowers are of an green herbie colour, and small, which turne into smaller fruit then the former (English Varieties), and rounder also, but with a small head or crowne at the top like unto it, and is of a more sweete and pleasant taste then the other, with three seeds only therein ordinarily." (PP568). 1664 Neopolitan (EK496). 1664 Azerole (EK496) Although known as a medlar it was a separate species, a cultivar of Crateagus Azerolus. It is related to Hawthorn [Crateagus Oxacantha] as evidenced by the “set with sharp thornes like the white Thorne, or Hawthorne: the leaves are very much cut or jagged like the Hawthorne leaves, but greater” (GH1454). Crateagus Azerolus still grows wild in Nature reserves in Lebanon.

Crataegus azarolus

Ken Fern, Plants for a Future Sun Feb 11 2007

The Azarole is currently being supplied by four nurseries in Britain (see http://www.rhs.org.uk/RHSPlantFinder/plantfinder.asp for details of these nurseries). Unfortunately, no cultivars are currently being offered though a form called 'White Italian' was offered a few years ago. It is possible that other old varieties are still being grown - please send us a comment if you know of any.

Crataegus azarolus

Antonios Karpasitis Sun Oct 14 2007

The plant is very common in Cyprus (where I come from) and in the eastern mediterranean. According to the book of Kyriaki Zannetou Panteli "The Medicinal Properties of Plants of Cyprus", in addition to its heart tonic properties it is also beneficial in cases of insomnia, stress and arthritis.

Crataegus azarolus

Francisco Felipe Sat Apr 26 2008

Crataegus azarolus was a popular small tree cultivated in North of Castille and other regions in Central Spain, as in my birth province (Palencia), where I often ate es as a child (now I am 46), specially enjoied in the countryside as a natural fence-maker and grown close to stone walls and in the boundaries of cultivated lands. Now its cultivation is been widely abandoned, but still possible to find in nourseries in two cultivars, the red (small and flavoury) and pale yellow (a bit bigger and less tasty than the red, but also very nice). Although not natural in Spain, it has been introduced for many centuries and was popular already in the Middle Ages, and metioned in differente versions of Dioscorides by spanish renacentis schoolars and in old gardenbooks (like Gregorio de los Ríos, one of the gardeners of Philipp the Second). It makes some prolems to grow from seeds, as most of Crategous, even more then the other hawthorns and mayflowers growing naturally in Spain (C. monogyna, C. oxyacantha, C. laevigiata, C. laciniata). I have a couple of red fruit growing in my garden at 1000 m altitude in the mountains of Madrid, graft on C. monogyna. The trees are now (April 2008) with the first white flowers and many more about to blossom, about sametime as the cultivated apple trees or couple of weeks later, but the leaves shooted early March. The frutis production changes very much form year to year, as I know from my familly, some yaeras bearing many fruits and others almost emptied, this is partly natural to hte species and partly also becasue this tree is quite sensible to the climate conditions in order to polinization and fruit development.

Crataegus azarolus

George J. Cefai Thu Jun 11 2009

"Azarale" as it was known here in Gozo Malta, was available many years ago on a hill (dead Volcano?) called 'The Hill of Merzuq' here on the island between Marsalforn Bay and the main road to our city Victoria. Later on in 1904 the Diocesy of Gozo was dedicated to Christ the Savoiur and a Statue was erected up there accordingly. Therefore This hill is also known as 'Tas-Salvatur'. Our children use to go right to the top of this hill to collect this azarolus. May I invite you all to visit Gozo and make sure that you go right to the top of'The Hill of Merzuq'. Please visit our website www.bandasantamarija.com and from the menu choose "Ritratt tal-Gimgha" ie: photo of the week and currently (June 11, 2009)it is showing the said 'Merzuq Hill'.

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