Plant type

Deciduous tree

Height

10m x 8m (but smaller depending on size of hedge)

Wildlife benefit

Bird (berries and shelter), bee, butterfly nectar, butterfly caterpillar, moth caterpillar and small mammal plant

  • Native tree making an excellent hedging plant. Thorny, dense habit.
  • White flowers in late spring with a distinct fragrance that some may find unpleasant. Followed by bright red berries.
  • Berries eaten by Blackbird, Blackcaps, Black Redstarts, Bluetits, Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Crows, Dunnock, Fieldfare, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Mistle
  • Thrush, Pheasants, Song Thrush, Redwing, Robin, Starlings, Turtle Dove, Waxwings, Woodpigeon, Yellowhammer.
  • Black Veined White Butterfly caterpillar food plant. Flowers also visited by adult butterflies seeking nectar.
  • Brimstone, Chinese Character, Grey Dagger, Lackey, Lappet, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Light Emerald, Mottled Beauty, Mottled Pug, Swallowtailed, Vapourer and Yellow-tail Moth food plant. Small Eggar Moth food plant when hedges left untrimmed in summer.
  • As with blackthorn, hawthorn is host to innumerable insects.
  • Small mammals such as mice, bank voles and foxes take berries.