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Plant Species Profile Mayhaw

Plant Species Profile Mayhaw (Crataegus opaca) The mayhaw, also known as riverflat hawthorn is a member of the plant family Rosaceae that is native to the south eastern United States. It grows to be a small tree 20-30 feet high with thorny branches & elliptic-to-oblong leaves, 2 -3 inches long. The foliage is dark green above with a rusty pubescent undersurface along the veins. The bark on mature trees is thin & flaky with a distinct salmon-colored inner bark. Beautiful pinkish flowers cover the trees in February & March. Fruit turn a bright red to reddish yellow color upon ripening in mid-April through early May. The fruits are a depressed, globose, apple-like pome about one-half to two-thirds of an inch in diameter. Cultivated varieties of mayhaw often have fruits much larger than this. Historically, mayhaws were harvested by outdoor enthusiasts throughout the backwoods sloughs, swamps & river bottoms of Louisiana. While usually found in low, wet, slightly acid areas, mayhaws produce their best growth on good upland soils in full sun. My first experience with gathering wild mayhaws came from boat trips down the Pearl River near the small town of Angie, La. in the early 1980s. A rise in the river each spring would deposit backwater in mudflats that were thick with mayhaw trees. A dip net and bucket were the only things needed to scoop as many pounds of fruit from the water as desired. Accessibility to these types of areas, along with the clearing of woodlands has led to a big increase in commercial & home orchards producing fruit from grafted mayhaw trees. Mayhaw fruits are relished by man & beast alike. While not fit for human consumption as a raw fruit, processed mayhaws are utilized in some of the South’s finest jelly, pie, coffee cake & ice cream recipes. Almost any wildlife species in our state will readily use mayhaw fruit when it is available. It is highly recommended for landowners looking to establish high-quality long-term food sources for attracting white-tailed deer &other wildlife. Source: La Wildlife News - Volume 3, Issue