Cockspur Thorn Crataegus crus-galli var. inermis
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Cockspur Thorn:
- Phonetic Spelling
- kray-TAY-gus krus-GAY-lee IN-er-mis
- Description
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Crataegus, or Hawthorn, is a genus containing many species and varieties that grows in low swamps and river bottoms as well as high mountain ridges throughout North Carolina. Crataegus crusgallii var inermis, or Thornless Cockspur Hawthorn, is a variety of C. crusgalli, a deciduous tree or shrub noted for being very dense and providing robust shade, but unlike C. crusfalli which has 4 inch thorns, the 'inermis' variety is thornless.
It is native to North Carolina as well as other places in North America. The tree grows to a medium-large size of around 20 to 30 feet in height with a 9 inch trunk and produces both flowers and small red berry fruits. Both of these can provide a nice color accent to a garden. It grows well in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun, but will tolerate a wide range of soils with good drainage, light shade, and some drought. Thornless cockspur hawthorn is a flowering tree or large shrub with wide-spreading low branches. It is adaptable to many environments but prefers full sun with moist, well-drained loam. It is tolerant of drought and urban conditions and makes a great specimen tree in a lawn or woodland garden or in a small group planting. The tree produces white flowers in May which form red berries which are not well liked by birds. In the fall the leaves turn a brilliant red for a great color accent. The plant is very accepting of trimming and can be cut back to old wood and will resprout freely. It is often used as a hedge.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:
Insect problems include aphids, borers, caterpillars, lacebugs, leaf miners, red spider mites, and scale. Hawthorns suffer from many diseases including rusts, fireblight, fungal leaf spots, powdery mildew, cankers, apple scab, and blights.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Crataegus
- Species:
- crus-galli
- Family:
- Roseaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The leaves, berries, and flowers are used in medicines and herbals for cardiovascular health. The wood is strong, tough, and heavy, but has little commercial value.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern North America, Canada to Georgia, west to Mississippi
- Distribution:
- Eastern North America
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- This plant provides nectar for 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. Birds relish the fruits.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Edible fruit
- Screening
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Nesting
- Edibility:
- Fruits are edible but might be best left for the birds.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 35 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Native Plant
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Horizontal
- Pyramidal
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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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
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Pome
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- 3/8" - 1/2" pome ripens to red and persists into late fall. Fruits are sometimes call "haws"
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Corymb
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- White flat 2 to 3 inch corymbs appear in mid spring and last about 1 week. 5 petaled 1/2 inch white flowers have an unpleasant fragrance. Flowers bloom from April to May.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Glossy, dark green simple, alternate, serrate margins, obovate 1"-4" long and 1/3"-1 1/2" wide. Cuneate base, rounded apex. Bronze-red to orange fall color.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Fissured
- Smooth
- Bark Plate Shape:
- Round
- Bark Description:
- Flat and plate-like
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Slope/Bank
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Edible Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Flowering Tree
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Fire
- Pollution
- Urban Conditions
- Problems:
- Frequent Disease Problems
- Frequent Insect Problems