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.


Growing Mayhaws
- Soil. Start with 3-gallon pots to make the thorns more manageable, but get them in the ground as soon as possible. Plant them in a slightly moist, acidic soil. They can also handle sandier soils on account of their strong roots, which, as Nance notes, are partly what makes the plants a boon to erosion-prevention efforts. Mayhaws can be grown in Zones 6a to 11b, but they don’t thrive in areas that receive heavy frost.
- Quantity. While you may get a good crop from one tree, planting 3 to 5 trees is ideal for cross-pollination and optimal harvest. “To get any sort of a significant yield where you’d be able to use them for jam and jelly, you’d need multiple plants,” Nance says. “It’s going to be a couple of years before you get anything significant. They need time to mature.”
- Fertilizer. When The Farm initially planted its orchard of mayhaws, workers fertilized the trees once a week with an organic granular 4-4-4 blend. The fertilizer schedule was later changed to “as needed,” once every quarter or so, depending on the growth rate. The workers fertilize the mayhaws through the fruiting stage, but then pause this schedule during the harvesting stage.
- Maintenance. Mayhaws require light maintenance. Nance prunes them through the growing cycle and watches out for suckers to make sure the tree is producing its optimal yield. He has also noticed occasional signs of cedar apple rust, which he treats with a biologic.
- Harvesting. To harvest the fruit, workers at The Farm lay down tarps and shake the trees. They then wash and sort the fruit and freeze it for further use. Nance estimates that 90 percent of the harvested berries are usable. This high yield makes the mayhaw a boon to any farm.
Originally published as “Make the Most of Mayhaws” in the October/November 2024 issue of MOTHER EARTH NEWS magazine and regularly vetted for accuracy.
Kenny Coogan earned a master’s degree in global sustainability and co-hosts the “Mother Earth News and Friends” podcast. He also created and hosts the TV show Florida’s Flora and Fauna with Conservationist Kenny Coogan. To learn more, visit www.FloridasFloraAndFauna.com.