Crataegus tanacetifolia aka Tansy Leaf Thorn

Crataegus tanacetifolia is a deciduous tree from Turkey. Its common names include Syrian haw and tansy-leaved thorn. It belongs to the rose family, Rosaceae. In the wild, it grows on dry slopes. Gardens also grow it for its flowers and fruit. Its upright growth develops into a rounded crown. Branches usually lack thorns, unlike those of many hawthorns.

Garden trees reach 13–26 feet [4–8 metres] tall and wide. They take about 20–50 years to reach full size. Soft hairs cover the grey-green leaves, which have deep lobes. White flowers form rounded clusters in midsummer. Their scent adds to the tree's garden value. Orange-yellow fruit follows the flowers and also has a scent. Each fruit can measure about an inch across. The leaves fall each year, leaving the crown bare in winter.

This tree suits full sun or partial shade. It accepts clay, chalk, loam and sandy soils. It also grows in acid, neutral or alkaline ground. Choose soil that drains well, with moisture available for growth. The RHS lists both exposed and sheltered sites as suitable. Its UK hardiness rating is H6. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 6–8. The RHS describes it as suited to most garden conditions. Seeds provide a way to raise new plants.

The tree works as a single specimen in a garden. It also suits wildlife gardens and loose, informal planting. Woodland edges and sites with light shade offer other options. The RHS includes it among plants for low-maintenance gardens. Its hard, heavy wood has a close grain. People can use it for handles, mallets and small wooden objects. The tree is often free of disease, though problems can occur. These include leaf spot, fireblight, powdery mildew and honey fungus. Aphids, gall mites and caterpillars may also attack it.

Plants For A Future describes ripe fruit as soft and juicy. Its flavour combines sweet and sharp notes, much like apples. The flesh can be eaten fresh or cooked. It can also go into pies and preserves, or be dried. Up to five large seeds lie inside each fruit. These seeds can cling together in a single hard group. The RHS warns that the seeds contain toxins. Remove them before preparing fruit for people to eat. It also warns against allowing pets to eat the fruit. This safety warning outweighs the broader absence of known hazards reported by Plants For A Future.