Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)
Hawthorn is a spiny shrub, used for hedging. It has been dispersed by birds throughout south-east Australia.
Profile
How does this weed affect you?
Hawthorn has invaded forests, woodlands and riparian areas throughout south east Australia.
What does it look like?
Hawthorn is a small tree or large shrub. There are thorns up to 2 cm long on the stems.
Leaves are:
- squarish or oval shaped
- 1-4 cm long
- on a stalk up to 3 cm long
- lobed usually with 3-7 lobes
- toothed along the edges.
Flowers:
- have 5 petals and 5 sepals
- are pink or white.
Fruit are
- dark red
- round and contain one seed
- 8-12 mm in diameter.
.
Where is it found?
In NSW hawthorn has been found in the the Northern and Central Tablelands, South East and Greater Sydney regions.
It is native to Europe.
Maps and records
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Recorded presence of Hawthorn during property inspections (Map: Biosecurity Information System - Weeds, 2017-2026)
These records are made by authorised officers during property inspections under the Biosecurity Act 2015. Officers record the presence of priority weeds in their council area and provide this to the NSW Department of Primary Industries. Records reflect the presence of the weed on the date of inspection.
How does it spread?
Red fleshy fruit are dispersed by birds.
More information
Control
Herbicide options
WARNING - ALWAYS READ THE LABEL
Users of agricultural or veterinary chemical products must always read the label and any permit, before using the product, and strictly comply with the directions on the label and the conditions of any permit. Users are not absolved from compliance with the directions on the label or the conditions of the permit by reason of any statement made or not made in this information. To view permits or product labels go to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority website www.apvma.gov.au
Users of agricultural or veterinary chemical products must always read the label and any permit, before using the product, and strictly comply with the directions on the label and the conditions of any permit. Users are not absolved from compliance with the directions on the label or the conditions of the permit by reason of any statement made or not made in this information. To view permits or product labels go to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority website www.apvma.gov.au
See Using herbicides for more information.
PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Glyphosate 360 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: 100 mL per 10 L of water
Comments: Spot spray.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Glyphosate 360 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: 10 to 13 mL per litre of water
Comments: Spray all foliage of actively growing plants from flowering to leaf fall. Use the higher rate on bushes over 2 m tall. For domestic (home gardens), commercial, Industrial and public service areas, agricultural buildings and other farm situations.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Glyphosate 360 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: 1 part product to 9 parts water
Comments: Splatter gun or gas gun low volume spraying.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Metsulfuron-methyl 300 g/kg + Aminopyralid 375 g/kg
(Various products)
Rate: 20 g per 100 L of water plus always add a Wetter 100 mL/100L (Titan Wetter 1000 or BS1000 or equivalent).
Comments: Spray to thoroughly wet all foliage but not cause run-off.
Withholding period: Pastures - Grazing for meat production or cutting for animal feed: Do not graze for 56 days after application. See label for further details
Herbicide group: 2 (previously group B), Inhibition of acetolactate and/or acetohydroxyacid synthase (ALS, AHAS inhibitors) + 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: High/Moderate
Metsulfuron-methyl 600 g/kg
(Various products)
Rate: 10 g per 100 L of water. Add a non-ionic surfactant 100 mL per 100 L.
Comments: Spray actively growing bushes using a handgun. Thoroughly wet all foliage but not to cause run-off.
Withholding period: Nil (recommended not to graze for 7 days before treatment and for 7 days after treatment to allow adequate chemical uptake in target weeds).
Herbicide group: 2 (previously group B), Inhibition of acetolactate and/or acetohydroxyacid synthase (ALS, AHAS inhibitors)
Resistance risk: High
Metsulfuron-methyl 600 g/kg
with Glyphosate 360 g/L (Various products)
Rate: 10 g metsulfuron-methyl + 200 mL of Glyphosate 360 per 100 L of water. Add a non-ionic surfactant 100 mL per 100 L.
Comments: Spray to point of run off using a handgun or knapsack.
Withholding period: Nil (recommended not to graze for 7 days before treatment and for 7 days after treatment to allow adequate chemical uptake in target weeds).
Herbicide group: 2 (previously group B), Inhibition of acetolactate and/or acetohydroxyacid synthase (ALS, AHAS inhibitors)
Resistance risk: High
Picloram 100 g/L + Triclopyr 300 g/L + Aminopyralid 8 g/L
(Grazon® Extra)
Rate: 500 mL per 100 L of water
Comments: Spray plants up to 2 m tall from late spring to early autumn.
Withholding period: Where product is used to control woody weeds in pastures there is a restriction of 12 weeks for use of treated pastures for making hay and silage; using hay or other plant material for compost, mulch or mushroom substrate; or using animal waste from animals grazing on treated pastures for compost, mulching, or spreading on pasture/crops.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Triclopyr 300 g/L + Picloram 100 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: 500 mL per 100 L of water
Comments: Late spring to early autumn application
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Biosecurity duty
The content provided here is for information purposes only and is taken from the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015 and its subordinate legislation, and the Regional Strategic Weed Management Plans (published by each Local Land Services region in NSW). It describes the state and regional priorities for weeds in New South Wales, Australia.
| Area | Duty |
|---|---|
| All of NSW | General Biosecurity Duty All pest plants are regulated with a general biosecurity duty to prevent, eliminate or minimise any biosecurity risk they may pose. Any person who deals with any plant, who knows (or ought to know) of any biosecurity risk, has a duty to ensure the risk is prevented, eliminated or minimised, so far as is reasonably practicable. |
| North West |
Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Asset Protection)
Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should mitigate spread of the plant from their land. A person should not buy, sell, move, carry or release the plant into the environment. Land managers should reduce the impact of the plant on assets of high economic, environmental and/or social value. |
| *To see the Regional Strategic Weeds Management Plans containing demonstrated outcomes that fulfil the general biosecurity duty for this weed click here |
For technical advice and assistance with identification please contact your local council weeds officer.
Reviewed 2025
