輝縣山楂種植始于清朝康熙年間，是全國五大產地之一。
      
    山楂（shanzha）（Crataegus pinnatifida）薔薇科，山楂屬。落葉喬木，高約6米。有枝剌，小枝紫褐色，老枝灰褐色。葉廣卵形或三角狀卵形，先端漸尖，基部楔形或寬契形，通常有3～5對羽狀深裂片，裂片卵形至卵狀披針形，邊緣有稀疏不規則的重鋸齒，下面沿中脈和脈腋處有毛；托葉呈不規則半圓形或卵形，邊緣有粗齒。傘房花序，多花。萼筒鐘狀，外面被白色柔毛。花白色，雄蕊20，花柱3～5，基部有柔毛。果實為梨果，近球形，深紅色，有淡褐色斑。
      
    我國遼寧、河北、河南、山東、山西、江蘇等地均有栽培。用分株、嫁接等法繁殖。果實味酸，可做果醬或生食。果干后入藥，有消積化滯，健胃舒氣、降血壓等。變種山里紅，果較大，華北各地栽培。

 

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.