Description

Leaves: Alternate; simple; elliptic to obovate; 2" to 4" long and half as wide; deciduous; upper 2/3's of margin serrate with no lobes; shiny dark green and glabrous above when mature; densely, finely pubescent beneath, especially on veins; thick; stay on late in fall and turn dark purple or brown.

Twigs/buds: Twigs stout; greenish, with many hairs at first, turning glabrous and gray-green as they age; thorns are fairly short and stout; may have buds; relatively few thorns present.

Flowers/fruit: Flowers perfect, white, 3/4" diameter, similar to C. douglasii.  Fruit fairly large; a 5/8" to 3/4" diameter pome, bright orange-red when mature, somewhat glossy; persistent into winter.

Bark: Similar to other Crataegus species: dark red to grayish; shreddy, scaly or sometimes blocky when young; weakly furrowed, ridged, scaly, and often fluted or knotted when older.

Wood: Likely similar to other Crataegus species: heartwood reddish-brown, sapwood light-colored; hard, heavy; diffuse-porous, close-grained; used to make handles for tools and canes.

General: A hybrid of C. crusgalli and probably C. pubescens.  Maybe not as tough as some other hawthorns, though pH adaptable.  Shade intolerant. Thorns or spines that can be dangerous; use thornless varieties if possible.

Landscape Use: A small, dense-canopyed tree with an often lop-sided appearance.  It has nice flowers, attractive fruit, and dark-green leaves.  Though supposedly cold-hardy, I have seen what appears to be cold damage on these trees in Logan.  Zones 4-8.

Cultivars: 'Lavalle'.

Characteristics