Description

Leaves: Alternate; simple; nearly deltoid or triangular; 1" to 3" long and nearly as wide; deciduous; serrate margin with several small lobes; glabrous; dark green and glossy above; thin; orange to red fall color; petiole 1" long.

Twigs/buds: First year twigs dark green-red; turning light gray in later years.  Numerous 1" to 3" long, slender thorns.  Buds small, round, dark red.

Flowers/fruit: Flowers perfect, white, 1/2" diameter, similar to C. douglasii.  Fruit a 1/4" diameter pome, bright orange-red when mature, 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: Native to much of the eastern U.S.  Also fairly tough, drought tolerant and pH adaptable.  Shade intolerant. Thorns or spines that can be dangerous; use thornless varieties if possible.

Landscape Use: This is one of the best hawthorns where its long thorns won't cause safety problems.  It has beautiful flowers, great fall color, attractive fruit that is liked by birds, and a small size.  It is being planted a quite a bit in Utah, and more planting is warranted.   Zones 3-8.

Cultivars: 'Clark', 'Fastigiata', 'Manbeck Select', Princeton Sentry™, 'Vaughn'.

Characteristics