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Hawthorn not flowering

alfharris8alfharris8 Posts: 513
in Problem solving
I have a mature Hawthorn which whilst looks in good shape has not flowered this year. 
It is in a fairly exposed position and I wondered if the extreme winds from the February storms could be the reason it hasn't flowered or if it is likely to be something else?
It hasn't been pruned and it lives in SW England where we don't experience such dry weather as the South East. 
Opinions appreciated as it is such a lovely tree,  I hope it isn't poorly. 
Thanks. 
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Posts

  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,487
    alfharris8  As no-one else has responded, I'll bring your enquiry back to the top of the posts, but my use for Hawthorn is, I'm afraid, as firewood.  Good luck.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    My only thought would be the possibility of drought … but you don’t think it’s likely to be that … hawthorn are usually fine in windy conditions … I’ve seen them blooming on the most windswept coastal cliffs, and I’ve never known hawthorn to be affected by 
    frost… so I return to drought … have you dug into the soil somewhere near your tree to see what the soil is like a foot or more below the surface where the roots are … certainly here in Norfolk it’s dry as dust down there. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Drought is certainly more likely, and in a windy site, that can be as drying as a lot of sun.
    Unusual though. They aren't normally affected too much by extremes of weather.
    Have you got a photo @alfharris8?
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    Mine is just flowering now. Are you sure it's not just a bit late?
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    That’s interesting @Posy … Hawthorn blossom’s been out a good three weeks and is just about over here 😊 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Hawthorn is normally just starting to flower here at this point, but the non winter has meant it's been flowering - both hedges and trees, for a couple of weeks. I'd have thought the OP's location would have meant it should be flowering by now.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    Although the winter was mild, we had a spell of bitterly cold easterly winds late on. A lot of young growth was just blasted and the effect has been to put some plants back. Hawthorn in sunny spots or in hedgerows has indeed been flowering for some time - though it was late, but my stand-alone tree in my very exposed garden is only just opening up its buds.

    I find it fascinating that weather can affect huge swathes of land or just small areas. Truly hard to predict.
  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
    Do hawthorn have years off like other trees do?

    The ones around me have either bloomed or are continuing to do so, so it could be the weather is different in your parts but you would be able to see the flower buds.
  • alfharris8alfharris8 Posts: 513
    Thanks for bump @nick615 and to the rest of you for responding. 
    Everything looks pretty fresh but I haven't had a dig around (just started to rain).
    Have taken a photo. 
    The named storms (Eunice and the other one that arrived in quick succession in Feb ) were really fierce so whether it was a bit too much for a tough tree I don't know?
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    edited May 2022
    They really aren't affected by stormy weather - unless they get blown down   ;)
    Looks healthy enough. Is it a named variety or just the bog standard one that grows everywhere?
    Just a thought - are you sure it's hawthorn?
    I can't see the foliage well enough.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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