Plant Profile: Hawthorn at Minute Man National Historical Park

The Wayside hawthorn in flower, 2004.

NPS / Minute Man National Historical Park

Specimen Details

• Location: The Wayside, Minute Man National Historical Park, Concord, MA
• Species: Hawthorn (Crataegus sp.)
• Landscape Use: Specimen tree
• Age: More than 160 years (estimated planting between 1852-1860)
• Condition: Poor
• ID Number: not currently available
• Measurements: not currently available

Significance

In front of the library at The Wayside, which was home to multiple authors over the years including Louisa May Alcott and later Nathaniel Hawthorne, a botanically unique hawthorn tree has stood for over 160 years. The tree is clearly visible in historic photographs dating to the 1860s. Nathaniel Hawthorne and his family had a special connection with the tree. His daughter, Una Hawthorne, wrote about the tree (and her sister Rose) in 1863, saying, “all Rose’s side of the Hawthorne is covered with buds.”

This statement describes the tree’s unique appearance: the hawthorn’s front half blooms double white flowers, and about a week later the back half blooms single white flowers with pink stamens. The Hawthorn Tree (as it was affectionately called by the family) is thought to have been planted by Nathaniel Hawthorne, likely among the trees he had sent over from England.

Historic photo of The Wayside from early 1880s. The hawthorn is located just above and slightly to the left of the seated woman with a book to the right of the photo.

NPS / Minute Man National Historical Park

The Wayside map showing labelled hawthorn tree, near the center.

NPS / Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation

Botanical Details

It is not known if this hawthorn was cultivated purposely to exhibit two different bloom types. Existing conditions indicate either the tree is two trees, whose trunks fused together at the base; or one side of the tree was grafted upon the other, and the host cultivar grew along with the intended cultivar.

Preservation Maintenance

The historic tree is nearing the end of life and is currently in poor condition. In order to preserve the Hawthorne hawthorn for future generations, Minute Man National Historical Park has established a propagation plan. A genetically propagated replacement tree is currently in cultivation and will be planted in the landscape of The Wayside at the appropriate time.

Close up of pink flowers (left) and white flowers (right) of the hawthorn, 2004.

NPS / Minute Man National Historical Park

Discover More

Learn about the Wayside cultural landscape

Cultural Landscape Inventory Report