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Edability of HAWTHORN - CRATAEGUS SPP #927977

Asked April 10, 2026, 9:54 AM EDT

I have an order of 200 of this native species from the DNR that I will be planting on my property. I was hoping to find an expert to confirm if the leaves of this specific native species are edible. Most of what I find on the internet references English species. Thanks in advance for your help,

Juneau County Wisconsin

Expert Response

Adam,

I would try the hardest to first identify the species, then that would make your research about the leaves a bit easier. It is a bit odd that Wisconsin DNR does not have species labels for their hawthorns, but I can share a few resources that can help you narrow it down:

  1. Minnesota Wildflowers: it might not cover all the hawthorns in Wisconsin, but should be many of them.
  2. Illinois Wildflowers: another ID resource, but has a few species not represented by the Minnesota website. Has a bit more info sometimes regarding ethnobotany/animal interactions.

I can't tell you much about the edibility or safe use of hawthorn, as that is a bit outside my wheelhouse. Please be careful as you learn more.

Best,

Shane


An Ask Extension Expert Replied April 10, 2026, 10:04 AM EDT

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