Mayhaw

Mayhaw is a native North American hawthorn that produces small, cranberry-like fruit ripening in May — hence the name. Grafted trees begin bearing in their third to fourth year. The fruit is too tart to eat fresh but makes a beautifully coloured, tart jelly that is a traditional Southern delicacy. Mayhaws naturally grow in wet, boggy ground and tolerate poorly drained sites that would kill most fruit trees. Plant two different cultivars for reliable cross-pollination. They are extremely low-maintenance once established and essentially pest-free.