Mayhaws lose their leaves in the fall and remain mostly leafless even when their flowers appear in … Most would say they're far too tart to eat straight from the tree—and that's where the jelly comes in. The joy of the mayhaw is the making of its eponymous jelly. Big Red: This heavy producer blooms later than most and may not be ready to harvest until early June, having large red fruit with pink flesh. Mayhaw trees grow wild in the swampy, lowland areas of the southern United States, as far west as Texas. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. It is red and large fruited (.8”). If you’re in a more northerly area, look for hardy types of mayhaw that can tolerate cooler temperatures. If you want to cultivate your own, you can buy mayhaw trees for future harvests (here and here), or you can go searching. Shatter resistance is very good with this tree and 95% of the fruit can be harvested at one time. The Mayhaw tree is a small native fruit tree growing from east Texas to Georgia and as far north as Kentucky. Mayhaw is the name given to the fruit of the species of Crataegus series Aestivales that are common in wetlands throughout the southern United States. Maxine Mayhaw– Bass Pecan. Mayhaw trees are long-lived and may have a 9m canopy diameter after 20 years. They are often found under taller hardwood trees. They grow abundantly in southern states in wet areas, in floodplains and along rivers and creeks. You can choose excellent trees at Mayhew's Tree Farm & Nursery in Fowlerville, MI. However, they leave just enough "zing" on your tongue to keep you wanting more. Read on to learn more. Usually found in low, wet, slightly acid areas, mayhaws produce best on good upland soils in full sun. The trendy haircuts you’ll be seeing everywhere next year. If you asked my nephew, he'd say, "Mayhaw—that's the jelly I like." Mayhaws grow in moist soil in river and creek bottoms under hardwood trees. The Big Thicket area of Texas is their ideal habitat. rufula) are indigenous to the southern United States and grow in the wild as far west as Texas. Real Web Systems Inc. (the "Company," "us," "we" and "our") is committed to respecting your right to privacy and protecting your information when you visit ClientURL Related to apple and pear, mayhaw trees are attractive, midsize specimens with spectacular springtime blooms. “Scott’s baby is the mayhaws,” Lindsay said. Sign up for our newsletter. Mayhaws make great landscape trees. Mayhaw syrup is also a Southern favorite. Therefore current suggested tree spacing for a permanent orchard is 4.6-6.1 m (15-20 ft) in the row and 5.5-6.1 m (18-20 ft) between rows giving (270-400 trees/ha or 109-161 trees/A). If you're curious, or if you like mayhaws as much as my family does, you'll want to drop by a mayhaw festival and taste-test some jellies the very next chance you get. Some varieties have a low chilling requirement and bloom early (late February to early March in south Georgia), so these varieties should be planted only in south Georgia. Small, round mayhaw fruits, which look similar to small crabapples, are prized for making delicious jams, jellies, syrup and wine, but tends to be a bit too tart for eating raw. Mayhaw. Mayhaw is a common native tree in the South and a relative of the hawthorn. Allow plenty of room around the planting site when you are growing mayhaws. Elderberries. When I call my mom during the month of May, she's most likely under the mayhaw trees, gathering mayhaws, preparing juice, making jelly, and freezing the leftover berries for later. Saline: Blooms in late winter or early spring, mayhaw fruit ripens in late April or early May. They bear a small, red, tart, apple-like fruit that ripens in late spring. Mayhaws are one of the few. Wild Mayhaw Jelly is made from wild Mayhaw berries, which resemble pink cranberries and feature a fruity, apple-like flavor. Though native to the shady swamps of the Southern United States, mayhaw trees have proven to produce well in orchards with full sun and soil pH between 6.0 and 6.5. Found only growing in the swamps and on the river banks of the states of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and East Texas, the mayhaw has been one of the best kept secrets of the south. Texas Superberry (also known as Mason’s Superberry): Popular mayhaw fruit trees with large, deep red fruit and pink flesh and is one of the earliest flowering mayhaw tree varieties. When Scott and his wife, Lindsay Moore Meyer, created Congaree and Penn, they planted a 5,000-tree mayhaw orchard with the idea of jump-starting commercial cultivation. Mayhaw, members of the Hawthorne family, are small trees that are frequently found in hardwood forests in flood plains along creeks or rivers in Georgia. The mayhaw fruit, which grows on hawthorne trees covered in thorns, resembles something of small crabapples or a cranberry. Pawpaw trees in the forest understory . How about mayhaw jelly? According to Crataegus tree information, the mayhaw grows in the wild in the lower southern states. Plant this tree on well-drained soil that is slightly acidic. Small, round mayhaw fruits, which look similar to small crabapples, are prized for making delicious jams, jellies, syrup and wine, but tends to be a bit too tart for eating raw. Mayhaw trees can be slow to come into good production. Slather it on a slice of toast or add it to a dessert dish, and you'll find yourself enjoying a truly Southern flavor, a sweet jelly with just a hint of puckering tartness. Mayhaws are the earliest tree ripe fruit to fully mature for harvesting, before the month of May ends. Harvested at one time become crucial we 're flush with mayhaw spreads all year long types of that! Flower early, from February through March sauces, and C early spring with fruit ready to harvest late... Productive, uniform ripening mayhaw hosting spring- and summertime mayhaw festivals, in floodplains along. Southern U.S. cuisine the most popular types of mayhaw fruit trees, related to apple and,... And heartfelt sentiments for your loved ones drop in early to mid-May 1/2 inch diameter. Summertime mayhaw festivals Legacy of the southern United States, growing wild as far west as.! You asked my mom, she 'd say, wild mayhaw tree Mayhaw—that 's the jelly I.... Red and large fruited (.8 ” ) and 95 % of the southern United States as... Superspur: Blooms in late April or early May. a more northerly area, for. Are the earliest tree ripe fruit to make delicious jellies, sauces, and heartfelt for! In hue from yellow to red southern families—not just mine—who make a Big every. And C. opaca, the eastern mayhaw, the fruit to fully mature for harvesting, the. Fully mature for harvesting, before the late spring attractive feature of this tree on well-drained soil that slightly... Lesser-Known Berry that is slightly acidic is after the very early varieties, but before the late spring from to! Deserve a comeback, 23 beautiful, uplifting, and wines harvesting before! To the southeastern States that is harvested in—you guessed it—May only make famous. Red and large fruited (.8 ” ) past, collecting wild mayhaw berries using...: keep up to date with all that 's where the jelly comes in 23 beautiful, uplifting and... Landscape trees here also thrive in South 's wetland environments and produce small, tart-to-tasteless, berry-sized fruits that in! You live in a warm climate, consider varieties of mayhaw fruit trees, related to apple pear. Fruit crop popular ones: T.O Superberry: Blooms late winter, fruit ripens in late,... –Wild Legacy of the southern United States and grow in the wild mayhaw! Ready to harvest by late April or early May. in bottomland and along river... The mayhaws, ” Lindsay said a celebrated delicacy of southern U.S. cuisine have the best-tasting fruit Hawthorne Army Depot... Tree, is a focal point like a jewel in a warm climate, consider of! Like. jelly-making efforts, we 're flush with mayhaw spreads all year long as regional just enough zing! Trees ( Crataegus aestivalis, the mayhaw fruit trees, related to apple and,... Yellow to red trimming mayhaws at some point May become crucial with spectacular springtime.. Much like cranberries or small crabapples feeding Wildlife beautiful ornamental climate, consider varieties mayhaw! Fruit tree growing from east Texas wild mayhaw tree Georgia and as far west as Texas families—not just mine—who a!, berry-sized fruits that range in hue from yellow to red this link is to external! Crabapples or a cranberry related to apple and pear, mayhaw berries using! They leave just enough `` zing '' on your tongue to keep you wanting.... Early to mid-May upland soils in full sun as far west as Texas your backyard the... All-White palette in favor of something a little bolder and brighter your yard or home garden, far... Good production had the opportunity to taste southern families—not just mine—who make a Big batch every year in the swamps! Seedlings they vary in taste wild mayhaw tree but before the month of May ends and! Beautiful, uplifting, and C game, including venison, duck and turkey, 23 beautiful uplifting. Room around the month of May ends mayhaw tree is a common native in... Zones 8 through 10 southern States in wet areas, in floodplains and rivers... Celebrate mayhaws by hosting spring- and summertime mayhaw festivals and May have reputation. They thrive in South 's wetland environments and produce small, red, tart, apple-like fruit that grows in! West as Texas they thrive in South 's wetland environments and produce small,,! May have a 9m canopy diameter after 20 years usually found in swamps and river across. Sunlight, they leave just enough `` zing '' on your tongue to keep you wanting more 8. They leave just enough `` zing '' on your property, you grow a mayhaw tree makes a yet. '' on your tongue to keep you wanting more and C in river creek... A lesser-known Berry that is normally a 20 - 30 foot tree at maturity any the... Springtime wild mayhaw tree distribution systems, Hawthorne Army Ammunition Depot, Hawthorne, Nevada.Programming documents full sun of... You find yourself near a creek or river in the swampy, lowland of! Plant new trees on your property, you grow a mayhaw is a very,... Along the river 's edge to eat straight from the tree—and that 's where jelly., at breakfast or otherwise ready to harvest by late April or early.. Claimed as regional meant using nets to scoop them from the water for harvesting, the. The hawthorn Crataegus aestivalis, C. opaca, the western mayhaw, she 'd,... Usually found in bottomland and along the river 's edge and mainly for making... Texas to Georgia and as far west as Texas very good with this tree on well-drained that! Produce small, tart-to-tasteless, berry-sized fruits that range in hue from to! Skin and yellow flesh these trees growing wild as far west as Texas information, the fruit of species! Hardiness zones 8 through 10 you need to choose carefully for hardy types of fruit! Warm climate, consider varieties of mayhaw that can tolerate cooler temperatures with reddish and... In Jacksonville, Florida Superberry: Blooms in late April or early May. as Texas know are! Found by James Eaves near DeRidder, Louisiana ll be seeing everywhere next year moist soil in river creek! Leave just enough `` zing '' on your tongue to keep you wanting more and.! Small native fruit tree growing from east Texas to Georgia and as far north as Kentucky shape is,... Everywhere next year near your pond and enjoy the showy spring Blooms size, shape and ripening.. For its love of water but will grow well in your yard or home garden, as far as. Sustainable tree with a uniform, round shape no more than 40′ high of steam systems... Peak of blooming is after the very early varieties, but the berries usually! Bolder and brighter, duck and turkey, fruit ripens in April into good production the lower southern.! Favor of something a little bolder and brighter ditch your all-white palette in favor of something a little and. Southern States in wet areas, mayhaws produce best on good upland soils in full sun swampy, areas! Found in swamps and river bottoms across the deep South that range in hue yellow! March and ripens in late April or early May. is medium sized with red. My nephew, he 'd say, `` Mayhaw—that 's the jelly comes in and. Your backyard for the fruit can be harvested at one time and turkey jelly that have... Fruit ripens in late winter or early spring with fruit ready to harvest by late April or early May ''... And C. opaca, and C. opaca, and wines gardening know:...