辉县山楂种植始于清朝康熙年间，是全国五大产地之一。
      
    山楂（shanzha）（Crataegus pinnatifida）蔷薇科，山楂属。落叶乔木，高约6米。有枝剌，小枝紫褐色，老枝灰褐色。叶广卵形或三角状卵形，先端渐尖，基部楔形或宽契形，通常有3～5对羽状深裂片，裂片卵形至卵状披针形，边缘有稀疏不规则的重锯齿，下面沿中脉和脉腋处有毛；托叶呈不规则半圆形或卵形，边缘有粗齿。伞房花序，多花。萼筒钟状，外面被白色柔毛。花白色，雄蕊20，花柱3～5，基部有柔毛。果实为梨果，近球形，深红色，有淡褐色斑。
      
    我国辽宁、河北、河南、山东、山西、江苏等地均有栽培。用分株、嫁接等法繁殖。果实味酸，可做果酱或生食。果干后入药，有消积化滞，健胃舒气、降血压等。变种山里红，果较大，华北各地栽培。

 

Huixian Hawthorns

    
    Huixian hawthorn started to be cultivated in the Kangxi period of Qing Dynasty. Huixian County is one of the five biggest producing areas in China. Hawthorn tree belongs to rosaceae, crataegus and deciduous tree. It has a height of about 6m with white flowers, whose fruits are similar with a ball and in dark red color scattering with light brown speckles. It is reproduced by vegetative propagation or grafting. Fresh fruits are sour and can be made into fruit jam or eaten directly, meanwhile, dried ones can be made into medicines which can help digest, reduce blood pressure, invigorate stomach, etc.