English hawthorn

In autumn, English hawthorn makes a breathtaking show of color with bright red fruits that decorate its branches against the background of a sapphire blue Sicilian sky. These small apple-like fruits which contain 2 or 3 seeds, have long been used in traditional medicines. They develop from clusters of white flowers that open in Spring. English hawthorn grows as a small thorny tree, often branching from the lower trunk, or as a shrub, depending on growing conditions.

Scientific name: Crataegus laevigata (C. oxycantha)

Italian common name: Biancospino selvatico

English common name: English hawthorn