Hawthorne

Washington Hawthorne (Crataegus phaenopyrum)

Size: 8′ tall 10′ spread

Flowering: inconcpicuous

Fruiting: autumn

Birds: late-fall migrants, and into winter species such as cedar waxwing, purple finch, and robin.

Washington Hawthorn is a broadly oval to rounded, dense, thorny tree. The foliage is a reddish purple when unfolding gradually changing to lustrous dark green at maturity. Fall color varies from orange to scarlet to purplish. Flowers are white and 1/2″ diameter. Fruit is bright, glossy red and 1/4″ diameter. Because it holds its fruit it is an excellent wildlife species and can be used as a specimen, hedge or screen. Plant 4-6′ apart in the row. It has low water requirements and shows a high tolerance to salt and alkali soils.

 

Dotted Hawthorn (Crataegus punctata) 35-40′ tall/ 20-40′ spread. Dotted hawthorn grows 35 feet tall and spreads to 40 feet. The flowers are white, abundant, and borne in late May or June. The fruit are red, somewhat pear shaped and have small dots on them. Some cultivars may not be suitable for hardiness zone 4 or less. Flowers bloom in late May and are very strong smelling. Thorns or spines are short and stout, though this hawthorn is not as thorny as other varieties.

 

 

 

 

Spike Hawthorn (Crataegus succulenta macracantha) 20′ to 25′ tall/ 20-25′ spread. Often listed as “Fleshy Hawthorn” this mid-west and great plains native 1½ – 2” long thorns, and attractive white flowers in the spring followed by heavy crops of bright red fruit in the fall. The fruit is only partially consumed by birds with remaining fruit persisting on the plants until the spring. The fall color of fleshy hawthorn is purple to red adding substantially to the fall display in your garden.