Hawthorn Bonsai Care Guide

Crataegus monogyna

Hawthorn Bonsai

Thorny, glossy and robust, the Hawthorn makes for a characterful Bonsai in any collection. Towards the end of spring these deciduous bonsai bear white flowers and crimson haws in the autumn. It characteristic thorns grow to an inch in length making this a prickly as well as hardy species.

Hawthorn Bonsai Care Tips

These hardy little bonsai can make good in shaded areas and areas soaked in sunlight. Ultimately you can be confident your Hawthorn will stand up to the coldest winds and frost. Potted hawthorn will still need protection from considerable downpours or extensive frost. 

Across the growing season, Hawthorn bonsai requires plenty of watering to ensure its roots do not dry out. If this is not sufficiently don’t you’ll see its leaf tips turn an unsightly brown. While hardy as any species and tolerant to the depths of winter, a Hawthorn’s roots should be kept moist during. 

A weekly feed with liquid fertiliser or a monthly feed with organic solid fertiliser is required across the growing season. 

Any pruning of a Hawthorn should be done at the end of spring and cut paste is applicable for wound maintenance. Over the growing season, don’t be afraid to trim shoots back to just a couple of leaves if they’ve grown to a sizable length. Consider the placement of your cuts to avoid creating knobs.

Hawthorns are responsive to wiring thanks to their flexibility. This can be done across winter, but any shoots and young branches respond better during the growing season. Whenever you are wiring a Hawthorn be careful to avoid its sharp thorns, consider removing before hand. We also recommend using wires with a thickness that matches the thickness of the branch: if the wire you choose is too thick you will damage the bark. If it is too thin, it won’t be effective.

Repotting your tree is an important way to provide a fresh and suitable soil mix and ensure appropriate root health. Repot in early spring. Hawthorns are seeking repotting once every three years.

Trees that are ready for repotting will require root pruning (approximately 1/3), a suitable new pot and appropriate soil mix.

When repotting, do not cut back the root mass by a large amount, and choose a well-draining soil mix that has a neutral or slightly higher PH value of 5-6 but not over 7. We tend to use a mixture of different speciality bonsai soils on our trees. Every species is different so please contact us for free soil-mix advice or to take advantage of our repotting service.

Bonsai trees aren’t only magnificent additions to an indoor oasis, they are more than capable of standing out in any garden. Many Bonsai species are incredibly hardy and withstand nature’s colder and damper turns with aplomb making them worthwhile outdoor plants. We have an extensive library of care guides for outdoor bonsai trees. It’s not about selecting the perfect bonsai, it’s about selecting the perfect bonsai for you. 

Hawthorn Bonsai - Typical Queries

To keep your Hawthorn Bonsai tree small, you need to prune and trim it regularly. Pruning is done to remove unwanted branches and create the desired structure of the tree. Trimming is done to reduce the length of the shoots and maintain the density of the foliage. You should prune your Hawthorn Bonsai in early spring before the buds swell. You should trim your Hawthorn Bonsai throughout the growing season when the shoots are about 4-6 inches long.

Hawthorn Bonsai grow at a moderate rate, depending on the species, the climate, and the care they receive. Some species, such as the common hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), can grow up to 12 inches per year, while others, such as the parsley hawthorn (Crataegus marshallii), can grow only 3-6 inches per year. Hawthorn Bonsai grow faster in warm and sunny conditions, and slower in cold and shady conditions. Hawthorn Bonsai also grow faster when they are watered and fertilized regularly, and slower when they are neglected or stressed.

Hawthorn Bonsai are good for bonsai because they have many characteristics that make them suitable for this art form. Hawthorn Bonsai are hardy and adaptable and can tolerate a wide range of soil, water, and light conditions. Hawthorn Bonsai are also easy to shape and style, as they are flexible and responsive to pruning and wiring. Hawthorn Bonsai are also attractive and interesting, as they have seasonal changes in their leaves, flowers, and fruits.