The genus Crataegus about 250 plant species. The species of hawthorn that are autochthonous in Slovenia are: C. laevigata, C. monogyna and C. curvisepala. Besides Slovenian autochthonous species, we also know non-native species. These are C. crus-galli, C. lavallei, C. persimilis, C. pannsylvanica etc. Habitats vary greatly between species, as do their morphological characteristics. Common to all hawthorn species is that they contain phenolic compounds, terpenoids, vitamins, minerals and toxic compounds, such as cyanogenic glycosides. Due to the medicinal substances it contains, hawthorn is mainly used for medicinal purposes. In addition, it is also used in cooking and carpentry. For cultivation in Slovenia, we recommend those species that grow well in Slovenia, therefore C. laevigata, C. monogyna and C. curvisepala. It's best that hawthorn is cultivated in a spindle-shaped form, with a planting distance of about 3 meters in a row and about 4 meters between rows.
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