what does a mayhaw tree look like

Mayhaw trees (Crataegus aestivalis, C. ... In the wild, mayhaw berries look very much like cranberries or small crabapples. They vary in taste, but the berries are usually fruity and tart. Most would say they're far too tart to eat straight from the tree—and that's where the jelly comes in.

How do I identify a mayhaw tree?

Mayhaw generally grows as a deciduous shrub, or small tree, with thorns and moderately small leaves of varying shapes depending on the species. The flowers of five white petals, sometimes six, bloom before the leaves appear. Mayhaw fruit are small (1/2 to 2/3 inches in diameter), round, fragrant, acid and juicy.

Where do mayhaw trees grow?

& Arn., mayhaw, grows from southwest Alabama west to southern Arkansas and east Texas. It is a small tree or a large shrub with a relatively large trunk that grows up to 30 feet tall and 8 inches in diameter, with narrow, rounded crown.

How long does it take for a mayhaw tree to produce fruit?

Harvest the fruit when the tree begins bearing, two to three years after planting. Mayhaw ripens in April or May.

Where is the best place to plant a mayhaw tree?

Mayhaw trees should be planted in moist, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0-6.5 and should be planted roughly 20-30 feet apart to allow for limb growth.

Are mayhaw trees self pollinating?

A large majority of the favored mayhaw varieties in orchards are grafted clones of trees selected from the wild for certain outstanding characteristics. ... Most mayhaw varieties are believed to be self-pollinating.

What does mayhaw fruit taste like?

My family loves mayhaws. ... In the wild, mayhaw berries look very much like cranberries or small crabapples. They vary in taste, but the berries are usually fruity and tart. Most would say they're far too tart to eat straight from the tree—and that's where the jelly comes in.

Where can I find mayhaw berries?

Mayhaws grow in moist soil in river and creek bottoms under hardwood trees. The fruit ripens in late April through May, thus the name may-haw. The fruit is also found in bayous surrounding lakes, such as Caddo Lake on the Texas/Louisiana border.

Is a mayhaw a crabapple?

What is the Mayhaw? The mayhaw is the fruit of the thorny Hawthorne tree. This small, round reddish fruit is about ½ to ¾ inch in diameter and resembles a crabapple.

How do you make mayhaw jelly juice?

To Prepare Juice or Jelly Stock:

Measure or weigh fruit and put in large saucepan. For each gallon (4 quarts or about 4 1/2 pounds) of mayhaws, cover with 3 quarts (12 cups) of water. For 2 quarts of fruit (a little over 2 pounds), cover with 6 cups water. Bring to a boil, cover and cook gently for about 30 minutes.

How do you propagate mayhaw?

Mayhaw Reproduction with Softwood Cuttings

Remove all but the top two leaves. Cut the two remaining leaves in half horizontally. Dip the tips of the stems in rooting hormone, either powder, gel or liquid. Plant the stems in small pots filled with well-drained potting mix or a mixture of half peat and half fine bark.

What kind of fruit trees grow in Louisiana?

A large number of fruit trees that can be grown successfully in Louisiana include figs, blueberry, blackberry and citrus in south Louisiana, and even more types can thrive in northern parishes. One key to success with most home fruit trees is being aware of your soil type.

What is mayhaw moonshine?

Patti's Wild Mayhaw moonshine combines Hawthorn berries and pure cane sugar. This delicate flavor is fruity like an apple but leaves a tart zing on the tip of your tongue. Mayhaw's flavors blend well with pineapple, ginger and orange. Pair this moonshine with ice cream, coffee cake, biscuits, BBQ or your favorite pie.

What does Hawberry taste like?

The fresh fruit has a tart and astringent flavor such that it is not especially tasty if eaten raw.

Why are they called crab apples?

Even desirable crab apples are sour. This sourness is presumably the root of their name, given that crabby connotes a difficult or grouchy person, though another theory is that it's an alteration of Scots and northern English scrab. The term crab apple dates from the early fifteenth century.

How do you tell the difference between a apple tree and a crabapple tree?

What is the difference between an apple and a crabapple? The main difference between an apple and a crabapple is the size of the fruit. A crabapple is a tree that produces fruit that are 2 inches or less in diameter. An apple tree produces fruit that are larger than 2 inches in diameter.

What fruit looks like a tiny apple?

Rowan, Sorbus aucuparia. Rowan trees, also called mountain ash, produce clusters of edible berries that look like tiny apples.

How do you boil Mayhaws?

Measure or weigh fruit and put in large saucepan. For each gallon (4 quarts or about 4 ½ pounds) of mayhaws, cover with 3 quarts (12 cups) of water. For 2 quarts of fruit (a little over 2 pounds), cover with 6 cups water. Bring to a boil, cover and cook gently for about 30 minutes.

How much jelly will a gallon of juice make?

Amount to Gather: One gallon (4 quarts) or about 4 ½ pounds of mayhaws will yield about 12 cups of strained, flavorful juice, enough for three batches of jelly.

Can lemon trees grow in Louisiana?

Oranges, satsumas, kumquats, grapefruit, tangerines, tangelos, mandarins, lemons and limes can all be grown in some parts of Louisiana. ... Louisiana Sweet and Washington Navel are the only orange varieties recommended for south and central Louisiana. None are recommended for the northern parishes.

What fruit is Louisiana known for?

List of U.S. state foods

State	Food type	Food name
Louisiana	State fruit	Louisiana strawberry
	State jellies	Mayhaw jelly and Louisiana sugar cane jelly
	State meat pie	Natchitoches meat pie
	State vegetable	Sweet potato

Can you grow bananas in Louisiana?

Bananas are grown throughout Louisiana as an ornamental to give a tropical affect to the landscape. ... Banana trees in south Louisiana grown below Interstate 10 frequently produce edible fruit; however, the size, shape and quality of the fruit may vary greatly from tree to tree.