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Crataegus pinnatifida - Bunge.

Common Name Chinese Haw
Family Rosaceae
USDA hardiness 5-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Riverbanks, on sandy soils or stony slopes[74]. Among shrubs, on slopes at elevations of 100 - 2000 metres[266].
Range E. Asia - N. China, Korea.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (3 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Wet Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Crataegus pinnatifida Chinese Haw


Crataegus pinnatifida Chinese Haw

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of lolypop
Crataegus pinnatifida is a deciduous Tree growing to 7 m (23ft) by 7 m (23ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6 and is not frost tender. It is in flower in May, and the seeds ripen from September to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Midges.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist or wet soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.
It can tolerate atmospheric pollution.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

Woodland Garden Secondary; Sunny Edge;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit
Edible Uses:

Fruit - raw or cooked[105, 177]. A pleasant flavour[178]. The orange fruit has a mealy texture with an acid taste and a slight bitterness but is fairly nice raw[K]. It ripens fairly late, specimens seen at the end of October 1998 were not quite fully ripe[K]. The fruit can be used in making pies, preserves, etc, and can also be dried for later use. The fruit is about 15mm in diameter[200], though in some forms it can be 25mm in diameter[266]. A nutritional analysis is available[218]. 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].

References   More on Edible Uses

Composition
Figures in grams (g) or miligrams (mg) per 100g of food.
Fruit (Dry weight)
  • 352 Calories per 100g
  • Water : 0%
  • Protein: 1.5g; Fat: 3.8g; Carbohydrate: 91.6g; Fibre: 6.9g; Ash: 3.1g;
  • Minerals - Calcium: 326mg; Phosphorus: 96mg; Iron: 8mg; Magnesium: 0mg; Sodium: 0mg; Potassium: 1253mg; Zinc: 0mg;
  • Vitamins - A: 0mg; Thiamine (B1): 0mg; Riboflavin (B2): 0mg; Niacin: 0mg; B6: 0mg; C: 0mg;
  • Reference: [ 218]
  • Notes:

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.
Alterative  Antibacterial  Anticholesterolemic  Antidote  Antiscorbutic  Cardiotonic  Deobstruent  Hypotensive  
Laxative  Stimulant  Stomachic  Vasodilator

The fruit is antibacterial, anticholesterolemic, cardiotonic, hypotensive, stomachic, vasodilator. It contains several medically active constituents including flavonoids and organic acids[279]. It has been shown to lower blood cholesterol levels and to improve blood circulation[176, 238, 279]. It is used in Korea in the treatment of abdominal distension, pain, diarrhoea and to induce menstruation[279]. The dried fruit is alterative, antiscorbutic, deobstruent, laxative, stimulant and stomachic[218]. The fruits and flowers of 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]. The seed is recommended in the treatment of difficult labour, hernia and swollen genitals[218]. The leaves and twigs are used as an antidote to varnish poisoning (from certain Rhus spp)[218]. The root is used in the treatment of nausea and vomiting[218].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

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

Special Uses

Carbon Farming  Food Forest  Scented Plants

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Industrial Crop: Medicinal  Management: Standard  Minor Global Crop

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]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[200]. 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]. Most trees have very few thorns, some forms are thorn-free[202]. A very ornamental plant[1, 11]. The sub-species C. pinnatifida major has larger fruit than the type species, it is cultivated for this fruit in China[46, 178, 200] Seedlings should not be left in a seedbed for more than 2 years without being transplanted[11]. For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is a standard with a non-suckering single trunk [1-2]. The root pattern is a tap root similar to a carrot going directly down [1-2].

Carbon Farming

  • Industrial Crop: Medicinal  Most pharmaceuticals are synthesized from petroleum but 25% of modern medicines are based on plants.
  • Management: Standard  Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
  • Minor Global Crop  These crops are already grown or traded around the world, but on a smaller scale than the global perennial staple and industrial crops, The annual value of a minor global crop is under $1 billion US. Examples include shea, carob, Brazil nuts and fibers such as ramie and sisal.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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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.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

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123

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

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Bunge.

Botanical References

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Links / References

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Readers comment

catharine   Thu Jan 18 2007

i'm wondering if one can develop a urticaric response to the ingestion of dried haw in green tea?

Ken Fern, Plants for a Future   Sat Jan 20 2007

I feel it is very unlikely that the hawthorn is causing Catharine'sproblem. However, there are reports that, on very rare occasions, people have had an allergic response to hawthorn whereby they have developed a rash on the hands, but there are no reports of the rash occurring elsewhere. In these cases, the side effect was mild and did not prevent continuation of use of the herb. If the rash was more severe than this, then I would recommend seeking further skilled advice either from a herbalist or your medical practitioner. Quite often, when we develop a rash as a result of taking herbal medications (or other natural cleansing treatments), then this is because the herb is working to get rid of toxins from the body, but the body is unable to eliminate them quickly enough and so the toxins are carried around in the bloodstream and cause the rash. In this case it is important to drink plenty of fluids (preferably water) and to eat foods such as rice or millet which help to draw the toxins out of the body.

IVAN H. EARL   Sat May 19 2007

is this useful or used for weight loss or appetite suppressing?

Divina   Thu Jul 5 2007

There is a trend in Asia at the moment that markets a certain slimming pill(Zhen de Shou) as containing crataegus pinnatifida. Is there any basis to the claim that the plant can be an active ingredient in fat loss pills? Is there any basis to it? It's an alarming trend and users report increased alertness, palpitations, warming sensation in the belly and spasm, some tremors, suppressed appetite, and weight loss by the fifth day.

Elisabeth Keene   Fri Oct 12 2007

I am absolutely no expert, but I do know that the Chinese have been using this hawthorn for centuries, and that no ill effects are reported. Could it be some other ingredient in the slimming pill causing the problem? I go to Beijing regularly and bring back the dried fruit and make a tea with it. I have never heard any of my Chinese friends say it was good for slimming. It is used for heart problems and joint problems. Ashita

Elisabeth Keene   Fri Oct 12 2007

Is this the same as Crataegus cuneata? The descriptions on this site are the same except for the range? Ashita

N. Gonzalez   Sat Mar 15 2008

I'm researching this crataegus pinnatifida because it is one of the main ingredients in Zhen de Shou. I am intersted in taking these pills to aid in weight loss and currently know about (5) people total who are taking them and are experiencing RAPID and STEADY weight loss! I am a little skeptical because you can never really be too safe in taking weight loss pills and many do come with side effects. I hope to be able to find a little futher insight on this ingredient and hear other testimonials if there are any other users out there. Thanks for your attention in reading my posting.

sandy   Sun Mar 23 2008

Zhen de Shou contains crataegus pinnatifida. is this useful or used for weight loss or appetite suppressing? is this safe as appetite suppressant?

Cay   Thu Dec 18 2008

Cay Dec 18 I just need to know more about the weight loss pill Zhen de shou. I tried taking it for 7 days and i lost 4 lbs. Everytime I take it I feel cold and uneasy. I want to continue taking the pills but Im not sure if its safe.

joy   Tue Mar 17 2009

I have been taking Zhen de Shou for 2 days now. It's too soon to say if how effective it is for slimmin. But what I notice is I started feeling a bit lighter around my waist. What worries me is I feel like having light fever, something that is not validated by the thermometer. Is this quite normal? Is this plant really goog for slimming and heart problems? Is there any side effects? Hope that somebody here can shed light on this.

Leen   Thu Mar 19 2009

Hi..i'm Leen from Malaysia..I have been taking the dried Crataegus for 1 week..I bought from Chinese traditional medicine shop..I used it to loss my weight..and it works..I put in hot water for 15 minutes..and drink it every night..

Tia Haynes   Sat Nov 28 2009

I have thought Hawthorn to be an appetite stimulent, but other medicinal values, such as heart tonic, regulating blood pressure, etc., have been long known & broadly used.

1st Chinese Herbs

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