Quickthorn Hedging (Hawthorn Hedges)

Crataegus monogyna or the common Hawthorn, also known as Quickthorn hedging, is one of the most common of English hedgerow native plants, providing beautiful May flowers and edible berries. Often featured in European folklore, the Hawthorn or Quickthorn is still an incredibly popular choice today. 

Wondering where to buy Hawthorn hedging? Hopes Grove Nurseries supplies Hawthorn hedge plants in bare root form from November to March, and potted hedging all year round. You can get in touch if you have any questions.

Step 1: Choose Your Root Type

Step 2: Choose Size and Quantity

Bare Root Hedging

These are field grown plants, lifted during the dormant season (normally November-April) and delivered ready for planting without any soil on the roots. The most cost-effective way to plant a new hedge.

Potted Hedging

We deliver these plants to you in the pots they are grown in, because there is no root disturbance they can delivered and planted all year round with excellent results.

Quickthorn (hawthorn) Bare Root Hedging 16/24in 40/60cm

  • 1 year old

  • Plant(s) per metre: 3-7
  • Minimum order quantity: 1

Free delivery on orders over £90 - Learn More

1 + 10 + 50 + 250 +
£1.07 £1.02 £0.98 £0.95

In stock

Quantity:

Total: £0.00

Quickthorn (hawthorn) Bare Root Hedging 2-3.5ft 60/100cm

  • 1 year old

  • Plant(s) per metre: 3-7
  • Minimum order quantity: 1

Free delivery on orders over £90 - Learn More

1 + 10 + 50 + 250 +
£1.38 £1.31 £1.26 £1.19

In stock

Quantity:

Total: £0.00

Quickthorn (hawthorn) Bare Root Hedging 3-4ft 90/120cm

  • 2 year old

  • Plant(s) per metre: 3-7
  • Minimum order quantity: 1

Free delivery on orders over £90 - Learn More

1 + 10 + 50 + 250 +
£2.22 £2.15 £2.10 £2.03

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Total: £0.00

Quickthorn (hawthorn) Bare Root Hedging 4-5ft 125/150cm

  • 3 year old feathered whip

  • Plant(s) per metre: 3-5
  • Minimum order quantity: 10

Free delivery on orders over £90 - Learn More

10 + 100 + 250 +
£4.07 £3.83 £3.71

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Total: £0.00

Quickthorn (hawthorn) Bare Root Hedging 5-6ft 150/175cm

  • 4 year old feathered whip

  • Plant(s) per metre: 3-5
  • Minimum order quantity: 10

Free delivery on orders over £90 - Learn More

10 + 100 + 250 +
£5.51 £5.27 £4.79

Out of stock

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Quickthorn (hawthorn) Potted Hedging 2-3ft 60/90cm

  • in 2 litre pots

  • Plant(s) per metre: 3-5
  • Minimum order quantity: 1

Free delivery on orders over £90 - Learn More

1 + 5 + 25 + 100 +
£9.59 £8.15 £7.67 £7.19

In stock

Quantity:

Total: £0.00

Quickthorn (hawthorn) Potted Hedging 6-6.5ft 175/200cm

  • in 4 litre pots

  • Plant(s) per metre: 2
  • Minimum order quantity: 1

Free delivery on orders over £420 - Learn More

1 + 5 + 25 + 100 +
£35.99£18.00 £34.79£17.40 £33.59£16.80 £32.39£16.20

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Quantity:

Total: £0.00

Quickthorn (hawthorn) Potted Hedging 6.5-7.5ft 200/225cm

  • in 10 litre pots

  • Plant(s) per metre: 2
  • Minimum order quantity: 1

Free delivery on orders over £420 - Learn More

1 + 5 + 25 + 100 +
£47.99 £46.79 £45.59 £44.39

In stock

Quantity:

Total: £0.00

Our Guaranteed to Grow assurance means you can buy with confidence in the knowledge that all our plants come with a 12 month guarantee as standard.

Product Information

  • Details
  • Delivery

Found amongst many of our hedgerows is one of the best species for hedging – the Hawthorn (Crataegus). It is a fantastic deterrent for intruders, due to its thorny growth, and is a native plant to the UK and other countries around Europe.

Hawthorn is one of the most common plants seen in mixed native hedgerows, it knits the hedge together making an effective stockproof barrier. You can learn more about mixed native hedgerows by looking at our mixed native page

It flowers in May, covering the whole hedge in gorgeous, delicate white flowers; it is also known as the May-Tree because of this. It is the only plant in Britain to be named after the month it flowers. Interestingly, the plant itself is a hermaphrodite, meaning it has both male and female reproductive parts within its flowers. It does produce berries, known as ‘haws’, which are packed full of antioxidants and are red in colour. These appear once the flowers have been pollinated, and help to feed wildlife including insects and birds.

They’re a sturdy plant that can withstand any soil and situation, Hawthorn hedges can be trimmed at any time from late Summer until Winter.

Planting distance for a new hedge depends on your patience, budget and the size of plant you choose. As a general rule 3 plants per metre will be sufficient (especially for the larger sizes of pot grown Quickthorn), 5 per metre will make a very effective double row hedge. If you choose the smaller sizes (say 90/120cm or smaller) you could plant 7 per metre for a fast developing and very dense hedge.

Take a look at our range of Hawthorn plants below. Should you have any questions or require any advice before making a purchase then please do not hesitate to get in touch with one of our specialist team members on 01580 765600, or take a look at our contact page.

Delivery leadtimes update- March/April 2024

We are working at maximum capacity to fulfil all orders as quickly as possible but owing to unprecedented demand some orders will take longer:

– Orders containing only bare root plants – delivery is currently within 5-7 days

– All other orders – delivery is currently within 2-3 weeks

Delivery is free for most orders above our free delivery thresholds, these are displayed above our prices in the product listings and summarized below. If you don’t need that many plants it’s not a problem, you can choose to pay our delivery charge and only order what you need.

Delivery is convenient – no signature is required so you don’t need to wait in, we will leave your parcel in the safe place that you nominate.

Delivery is fast – because we pick orders daily from our own growing beds your plants only travel the small hop to our packing shed before being sent to you, they are usually delivered within 3-7 days.

Delivery is reliable
– we have been selling and delivering Hedging Plants to our customers nationwide since 1992. We have a lot of experience in packing them safely and only use tried and tested delivery partners.

Smaller Plants (Parcel Delivery)

LocationOrder ValuePrice
UK Mainland excluding HighlandsUp to £90£9.00
UK Mainland excluding HighlandsOver £90Free
Scottish Highlands and Isle of WightAll orders£24.00

Heavy Plants (Pallet Delivery)

LocationOrder ValuePrice
UK Mainland excluding HighlandsUp to £420£72.00
UK Mainland excluding HighlandsOver £420Free
Scottish Highlands and Isle of WightAll orders£72.00

Tall Plants 2.5m+ (Specialist Delivery)

LocationOrder ValuePrice
UK Mainland excluding HighlandsUnder £1800Please call us
UK Mainland excluding HighlandsOver £1800Free
Scottish Highlands and Isle of WightAll ordersNot available

Exceptions to our delivery charges are Scottish Highland and Isle of Wight delivery areas where we need to charge a little extra to cover the cost of deliveries to these outlying areas. We don’t currently delivery to other offshore addresses including Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland.

Tall plants over 2.5 metres have to be delivered by our own specialised transport, our delivery area is limited to mainland England and Wales only.

Complete delivery information can be viewed on our
 Delivery Information page

Further Information about Quickthorn Hedging (Hawthorn Hedges)

About Hawthorn Hedges

Hawthorn hedging (Crataegus monogyna) is a species of the Rosaceae family originating from the regions of North Europe. An incredibly valuable plant for wildlife, this deciduous hedge has been known to support several hundred species of insects and animals, therefore making Quickthorn hedges a popular purchase amongst farmers and those looking to support wildlife. 

Also known as “May” named after the month its delicate flowers bloom, the Hawthorn hedge is a hermaphrodite. Its flowers grow both male and female reproductive systems, allowing the plant to reproduce without relying on pollination by bees and insects. 

Quickthorn hedges also produce a vibrant red fruit, packed with antioxidants, called ‘haws’. These are edible when raw, but are most commonly made into jams or wines. Hawthorn hedging berries are also used in tinctures, infusions, and food supplements.

Due to the Hawthorn hedge’s thorny nature, it is regularly planted as an excellent security hedge. The denseness of the foliage also makes it a great windbreaker, when planted as a dense hedge, helping to provide valuable shelter in gardens. It is a tremendous ‘knitter’ and when planted as part of a Native hedge, will be the plant that weaves amongst the others to bring the hedge together whilst providing valuable shelter and food to your local wildlife.

Growth Rate for Hawthorn Hedge Plants

A fast-growing hedge, Quickthorn plants can grow up to 40 to 60cm per year. Their height can be maintained fairly easily from 1-5m with frequent pruning. The maximum height and spread of a mature and untrimmed hawthorn tree can be up to 8 metres.

Care for your Quickthorn Hedging

When to Plant Hawthorn Hedging

You can plant your bare root Quickthorn hedges from November-late March when they are dormant and they have plenty of time to establish (although we recommend trying not to plant them when the ground is frozen). Hardy and versatile, these hedging plants will thrive in most types of soils, as long as they are not waterlogged. If you have ground prone to waterlogging we suggest adding plenty of general purpose compost and grit or shingle and combining it well with your existing soil to improve the drainage in the area.  We also suggest using deep loam or sand, which keeps the soil from compacting too much while retaining moisture. 

When to Prune Hawthorn Hedge (UK)

Hawthorn hedges are considered to be low-maintenance, but they do require occasional pruning. Late autumn to early spring is generally the best months to thin out any overgrown branches or to remove any dead or diseased growth. You can, however, lightly trim Hawthorn hedges more often than this to maintain an attractive shape. 

A fast-growing hedge, Quickthorn plants can grow up to 40 to 60cm per year. Their height can be maintained fairly easily from 1-5m with frequent trimming. The maximum height and spread of a mature and untrimmed hawthorn tree can be up to 8 metres.

If you want to hard prune your Quickthorn hedge, make sure you do so after the flowers have bloomed, as this encourages a fuller growth of flowers in the following year. 

See our guide to Hawthorn Hedge Pruning for more information.

 How to Plant Hawthorn Hedge

Our Hawthorn hedges can be purchased at varying stages of growth, from a year old to a 4-year-old feathered ‘whip’ bare root plant. Or as a potted plant at any time throughout the year. We suggest planting 3-7 plants per metre, depending on your hedge requirements, and their size when bought. Planting distance for a new hedge completely depends on your budget and of course, your patience.  

As a rule, 3 plants per metre will be sufficient, especially for the larger sizes of pot-grown Hawthorn. If you would like to grow a double-row hedge, 5 plants per metre will give you far thicker hedging, sooner. For a fast-developing and very dense hedge, we suggest planting 7 smaller-sized plants (90/120 cm or smaller). 

Are you a gardening beginner? Take a look at our page on How To Plant A Hedge for general advice on hedge planting.

Hawthorn Pests & Diseases
Hawthorn hedges may be prone to damage from various pests, including apple woolly aphids, gall mites and other bacterial diseases. These can mostly be controlled by chemical treatments containing pyrethroids and pyrethrin, although this may not be effective against all pests. 

Please contact our team for more advice on pest and disease control if you are new to hedge maintenance.

Quickthorn Hedge Planting Density

Our Hawthorn hedges can be purchased at varying stages of growth, from a year old to a 4-year-old feathered whip. We suggest planting 3-7 plants per metre, depending on their size when bought. Planting distance for a new hedge completely depends on your budget and of course, your patience.  

As a rule, 3 plants per metre will be sufficient, especially for the larger sizes of pot-grown Hawthorn. If you would like to grow a double-row hedge, 5 plants per metre will give you far thicker hedging. For a fast developing and very dense hedge, we suggest planting 7 smaller sized plants (90/120 cm or smaller). 

Are you a gardening beginner? Take a look at our page on How To Plant A Hedge for general advice on hedge planting.

Why Choose Hopes Grove Nurseries?

Our team at Hopes Grove Nurseries pride ourselves on supplying only the healthiest products to our customers. From our humble beginnings in 1992, our local business has now expanded to supplying top-quality plants in a range of potted, bare root, instant trough hedging and rootball sizes nationwide. 

Between our team of dedicated staff, we ensure that each and every plant is grown with passion and is in prime condition when it reaches your doorstep. Our combined 200 years of experience in growing means that with Hopes Grove Nurseries you get a service that you will not find elsewhere. 

If you’re interested in our Hawthorn hedging, take a look at our range above or get in touch today.

Quickthorn Hedging (Hawthorn Hedges) Questions

Other Types of Hedging