How to Grow Mayhaw Trees

Learn how to grow these productive plants.

By Kenny Coogan
Updated on August 23, 2024
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by Will Nance
The orchard of mayhaw trees at The Farm at Okefenokee.

Often located on the banks of ponds and rivers, the mayhaw (Crataegus aestivalis) is a deciduous, primarily Southern shrub in the hawthorn family that can be trained into a small tree. It can be found as far west as Mississippi and as far north as southeastern Virginia. Mayhaws thrive in wet areas, such as wetlands, swamps, and shallow ponds. Some can reach 30 feet in height. The mayhaw comprises about half a dozen popular cultivars and a western species (C. opaca), all of which produce edible fruit. The range of C. opaca extends from southeastern Texas to the Florida Panhandle, and as far north as southern Arkansas.

Will Nance, team member at The Farm at Okefenokee, prefers the wild variety of C. aestivalis, which is available at some nurseries that carry native plants. The Farm at Okefenokee is a rural agriculture community near Folkston, Georgia, that offers a farm-focused lifestyle. The Farm has around 2,000 planted mayhaws, which yielded 160 gallons of mayhaw fruit in 2022. Here, Nance shares his expert advice from his experience growing these hardy, beautiful, and bountiful plants at The Farm.

Mayhaw Tree Identification

Consider the following characteristics to help determine if you’re looking at a mayhaw.

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