Hawthorn Bonsai Care

In 2019 I found a recently germinated hawthorn seedling in my garden. I carefully dug it up and transplanted it to a pot.

I have been growing it ever since and you can watch its progress in this Youtube Video. Its not a bonsai yet, but it is in “training”

The hawthorn I own is the Crataegus Monogyna, also know as the Common Hawthorn.

It is a small deciduous tree which is known for its red berries and thorns. It is often used as hedging plant in the UK. It can get some seriously spiky thorns, which is why it makes a great perimeter hedge, along with the fact you can build up some very dense foliage.

What Is The Natural Habitat of A Hawthorn?

There are several species of hawthorn, all found throughout the northern hemisphere in temperate climates, so this should give you a broad view of what type of climate these trees like.

What Soil Do Hawthorn Bonsai Need?

Hawthorn bonsai prefer a moist, well draining soil. Like most other species they like it to remain damp at all times. They do not want to dry out, and they do not want to drown and be waterlogged. If you can keep it just at that damp level, they will be very happy. A free draining soil will offer this and give them the best environment to thrive.

I use my standard mix of equal parts Perlite/Molar Clay/Compost and my small hawthorn seedling seems to be enjoying it.

(You can read more about – A General Guide To Bonsai Soil)

How Do you Water A Hawthorn Bonsai?

Hawthorn bonsai need the soil to be moist and do not like to be waterlogged. If you are using a well draining soil then you will find the soil can stay damp while avoiding being waterlogged.

You should water the tree before it fully dries out so you will need to learn the signs that a tree is in need of water and respond accordingly .

You can learn how to water properly in this article –How To Water A Bonsai

How Much Sun Light Does A Hawthorn Bonsai Need?

Hawthorn bonsai trees can take full sun. Being from the temperate northern hemisphere climate means you can just leave them outside and they should get more than enough light to keep them happy.

I imagine the further south you live, the more aggressive they will grow, but make sure you are keeping on top of their water as the more sun they get, the more water they will need.

If you are in a very hot, southern climate then your hawthorn may not be able to handle the full sun and some shade throughout the day may be appreciated, but for most of us they should be fine in the sun all day long.

How Hardy Are Hawthorn Bonsai?

Hawthorns are fully hardy in the UK and candle temperatures down to -20°C/ -4°F when grown in the ground. If you are growing one in a bonsai pot you should not allow it to get this cold.

Trees in pots are not as hardy. The temperature they can handle in a pot is still going to be low, but I would protect the tree in an unheated greenhouse or shed if you are actually getting very low temperatures.

I leave my tree outside all year around and it dips below freezing throughout the winter. Even if I had weather that was just below freezing all winter long, a hawthorn should be fine.

I would only really worry if it is getting super cold and closer to the -20°C/ -4°F range, which is rare for most of us.

(For more info you can read – Working Out How To Over Winter Bonsai Trees)

How Often Do You Feed A Hawthorn Bonsai?

I feed my hawthorn bonsai once a month during the growing season with a general all purpose fertiliser which is more than enough to keep it healthy.

You do not need to fertilse over winter. You can still do it in autumn, to give it some energy for spring, but I usually cut right back at this time of year on fertiliser.

(For more info you can read – Do You Need To Use “Bonsai” Fertiliser?)

How Do Hawthorn Bonsai Respond to Pruning?

Hawthorn bonsai respond very well to pruning, they will send out lots of new shoot and will become very thick and bushy very quickly. This is why they are used as hedges, you can build up some density very easily.

They can take a lot of pruning work and will always respond well to hard pruning. If you just focus on pruning for a few years you will build up a good structure for your bonsai that you can then refine that down to what you want to keep and build from there.

Hawthorn will send random shoots out all over the place after you prune, so you will need to watch out of this and remove anything you dont want to keep.

(For more info you can read- How To Prune A Bonsai Tree)

Wiring A Hawthorn Bonsai

Hawthorn bonsai will require wire. Their growth is often straight and angular.

You can do a lot with clip and grow pruning techniques, but really you will need to at least wire the main structure into place if you want a decent looking bonsai.

Wiring the shoots when still young and flexible can help add movement into the tree and help you get the shape that you want. It is better to wire them when the shoots are young as when they harden off, they can be hard to bend.

(For more info read – Why Do We Wire Bonsai?)

Repotting A Hawthorn Bonsai

Hawthorn bonsais should be repotted in spring as the buds are bursting and about to open.

Unlike the top of the trees, which can be worked hard, hawthorns do not like to have their roots disturbed too often and can often sulk after a repot.

A hard root pruning is not advised. You should be more cautious with your repotting and try not to upset the tree too much. I would try and wait as long as possible in between reports since they can take a while to recover from the work.

You will will really need to spread your root work out over the long term when it comes hawthorns, you will not get a decent root spread quickly with them. Slow and care if the best approach.

(For more info you can read – How To Repot A Bonsai Tree)

What Is The Leaf Pattern Of A Hawthorn Bonsai?

Hawthorn bonsai have an opposite leaf pattern. As the name suggests, they have thorns, so watch out for these as they can be sharp and they are found along the branches and in between leaves.

They are also deciduous, so expect the leaves to fall off in autumn and the tree to go dormant over winter. They do not have the best colour display, but that is okay.

What Pests Does A Hawthorn Bonsai Suffer From?

Hawthorn bonsai can suffer from aphids, fireblight and gall mites.

If your tree is healthy you shouldn’t get any problems, they are pretty robust. However, you should check the tree often to make sure nothing is affecting it and treat any issues accordingly.

Can You Propagate A Hawthorn Bonsai?

Hawthorn trees can be easily grown from seed but it can take many years to thicken the trunks. Really you would need have them growing in the ground for a few years to get any real size to them and this is why yamadori hawthorns are the preferred method of getting a decent tree to use as bonsai.

The seedling I am growing is probably the worst way to go about things.

They can also be air layered, which means you can get a good size trunk a lot faster by using this method.

What Is The Growth Rate Of A Hawthorn Bonsai?

Hawthorn bonsai are quite vigorous, especially once established and healthy.

This will of course depend on the climate and growing conditions, but if everything is in order, they will grow aggressively.

Should You Get A Hawthorn Bonsai?

Hawthorn trees make great bonsai. They are one of the most favoured species in Europe.

They are very robust, grow fast and are easy enough to care for. They could be handled by a beginner so long as they are cautions with the roots. They are certainly worth having in your collection.

You can read more about – Is Hawthorn Is A Good Tree For Bonsai?