Hawthorn
Crataegus spp.

You've surely already heard of hawthorn, although you may not realize it. This small tree is also called a "mayflower," like the pilgrims' ship. And remember the thorny hedge that grew around Sleeping Beauty's castle in the fairy tale? That was a hawthorn hedge. Ancient Greeks and Romans linked hawthorn with marriage and hope, aspects of the "spiritual heart." How interesting that this same herb is helpful to the physical heart, too! Hawthorn flowers, fruits and leaves produce a compound that can support your cardiovascular system. Hawthorn is widely used in German medicine for this purpose. One note, though — unlike Sleeping Beauty's hedge (which sprouted up overnight), hawthorn's benefits are believed to be long-term and sustained, rather than quick-acting.

Commonly called: hawthorn berries