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Thornapple Crataegus alabamensis

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
krah-TEE-gus al-uh-bam-EN-sis
Description

Alabama Hawthorn is a native shrub in the rose family native to the Southeastern United States. Alabama Hawthorn is one of many species of the Hawthorn genus that are distributed throughout the area, but Alabama Hawthorn is currently only found in Georgia and Florida in open woodlands. Like other Hawthorns, Alabama Hawthorn is a shrub, or small tree with long, straight thorns and bears white flowers in spring that ripen to red or yellow fruit in the fall.

Alabama Hawthorn is a host plant for the larvae of the Gray hairstreak (Strymon melinus)Red-spotted purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax), and the Viceroy (Limenitis archippus) butterflies.

Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems:

No known diseases or other problems.

 

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#small tree#white flowers#shrub#moth caterpillar host#nectar plant#native shrub#cover plant#edible fruits#pollinator plant#Braham Arboretum#nesting sites#larval host plant#bird friendly#nectar plant late spring#butterfly friendly#nectar plant midspring#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#red-spotted purple butterfly#gray hairstreak butterfly#viceroy butterflies#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#small tree#white flowers#shrub#moth caterpillar host#nectar plant#native shrub#cover plant#edible fruits#pollinator plant#Braham Arboretum#nesting sites#larval host plant#bird friendly#nectar plant late spring#butterfly friendly#nectar plant midspring#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#red-spotted purple butterfly#gray hairstreak butterfly#viceroy butterflies#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Crataegus
    Species:
    alabamensis
    Family:
    Rosaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    The wood is strong, heavy, and hard, but rarely used in commercial applications. The leaves, berries, and flowers are used in medicines and herbals for cardiovascular health.
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Southeast North America, NC
    Distribution:
    Currently found in Alabama and Florida
    Wildlife Value:
    Important nectar flower for insects; food plant of many moths including the eggar moth; haws provide winter fruit for songbirds. This plant provides nectar for other pollinators. It is a larval host plant for Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax), and Viceroy (Limenitis archippus). Red-spotted Purple and Viceroy rarely use this host plant in North Carolina. Good nesting habitat with thorns providing protection from predators.
    Play Value:
    Attracts Pollinators
    Edible fruit
    Wildlife Cover/Habitat
    Wildlife Food Source
    Wildlife Nesting
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Perennial
    Shrub
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Spreading
    Vase
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Coarse
    Appendage:
    Thorns
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Moist
    Occasionally Wet
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Pome
    Fruit Description:
    Small red pome with 1 to 5 pyrenes that resemble the “stones” in related plums, peaches, etc. Sometimes called the ‘haw’.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    White
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Description:
    Inflorescence with 3-6 flowers, hypanthium hairy and white. Flower blooms from April to May. Some consider the fragrance to be pleasant, others consider it unpleasant.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Rough
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Cuneate
    Oblong
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Crenate
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Two to three inch long, wedge-shaped, leaves notched on the edges. Oblong to cuneate, margins crenate-serrate.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Black
    Dark Gray
    Light Gray
    Surface/Attachment:
    Smooth
    Bark Description:
    Thin, smooth and gray bark, black with age. On old stems, it breaks up into narrow scales.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Gray/Silver
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    New growth densely tomentose, 1-year old twigs dark gray, spines present
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Winter Garden
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Songbirds