Hawthorn vs Blackthorn: What’s the Difference for Hedging?

Hawthorn and Blackthorn are both thorny native deciduous hedging plants, but they are not interchangeable. Their flowering sequence, fruit, growth habit and tendency to spread can make one more suitable than the other for a particular garden or native hedge.

Quick Answer

Hawthorn and Blackthorn are both thorny native deciduous hedges, but Hawthorn produces red haws and usually flowers after its leaves emerge, while Blackthorn flowers earlier on bare stems and later produces blue-black sloes. Blackthorn also suckers more readily. Hawthorn is often the easier main framework for a defined garden hedge, while Blackthorn is especially useful in broader native, wildlife and defensive planting.

Reviewed by Gwynne Bodsworth • Last updated 20 August 2026

Hawthorn and Blackthorn are different native hedge plants

Hawthorn is Crataegus monogyna, while Blackthorn is Prunus spinosa. Both are traditional thorny deciduous species that work well in native hedges, but they are easy to tell apart once you know which features to look for.

Feature	Hawthorn	Blackthorn
Botanical name	Crataegus monogyna	Prunus spinosa
Spring flowers	White flowers usually appear after the leaves have started to open	White flowers commonly appear on bare branches before the leaves
Autumn fruit	Red haws	Blue-black sloes with a pale bloom
Growth habit	Dense branching that responds well to hedge management	Dense thorny growth with a stronger tendency to sucker into adjoining ground
Winter	Deciduous, leaving a thorny woody framework	Deciduous, leaving a dense spiny framework

Which flowers first, Hawthorn or Blackthorn?

Blackthorn is usually the earlier flowering plant. Its white blossom is often produced on bare stems before the leaves open. Hawthorn normally flowers later, after the young leaves have emerged. This is one of the easiest ways to separate the two species in spring.

Which is easier to manage as a garden hedge?

For many domestic boundaries, Hawthorn is the easier all-round framework plant because it makes a dense hedge without the same strong suckering habit as Blackthorn. Blackthorn can be extremely useful where a broader, defensive or more natural thicket is wanted, but its suckers may need controlling beside lawns, paths and planted borders.

You can compare our Hawthorn hedging and Blackthorn hedging ranges if you are deciding between the two.

Which is better for wildlife?

Both species have strong wildlife value. Hawthorn provides spring flowers, red haws and dense thorny cover. Blackthorn produces very early blossom, later sloes and similarly protective spiny growth. Rather than choosing only one, many traditional mixed native hedges use both so the flowering and fruiting season is more varied.

Can Hawthorn and Blackthorn be planted together?

Yes. They are commonly compatible in a mixed native hedge. Hawthorn can form much of the main framework while Blackthorn adds early blossom, sloes and extra defensive growth. Allow enough width for the finished hedge and be prepared to control Blackthorn suckers where they are not wanted.

For a broader species mixture, see our Native Mixed Hedge Plants range.

Gwynne Bodsworth, grower at Hedging Plants Direct

Expert nursery advice

Gwynne's Grower's Tip

If I were planting a tidy native garden boundary, I would usually let Hawthorn do most of the structural work and use Blackthorn as part of the mix rather than allowing it to dominate. Blackthorn's suckering habit is useful when you want a dense rural thicket, but it can become extra maintenance beside lawns and borders. Whichever you choose, give a thorny hedge enough width so it can be clipped without forcing stiff branches into paths or gateways.

Gwynne Bodsworth • Grower, Hedging Plants Direct