Hog Apple Crataegus crus-galli
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Hog Apple:
Previously known as:
- Crataegus crus-galli var. inermis
- Phonetic Spelling
- krah-TEE-gus KRUS GAL-ee
- 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, or Cockspur Hawthorn, is a deciduous tree or shrub noted for being very dense and providing robust shade. 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.
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. These flowers also produce an unsavory aroma.This tree is also noted for producing large 4 inch thorns. Some cultivars such as 'Cruzam' (also known to a lesser extent as var. inermis, meaning "without thorns") do not produce these thorns. 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.
It serves as a host plant for the larvae of the Gray hairstreak (Strymon melinus), Viceroy (Limenitis archippus), and the Red-spotted purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) butterflies as well as the eggar moth.
Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems:
Susceptible to cedar-hawthorn and cedar-quince rusts and fireblight, fungal leaf spots, powdery mildew, cankers, apple scab, leaf blight and twig blight. Potential insect pests include aphids, borers, caterpillars, lacebugs, leafminers and scale. Red spider mites may also occur. Thorns can pose a hazard for children.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Cruzam'
Thornless and disease resistant. - 'Inermis'
Virtually thornless, early white blooms, abundant red fruit and attractive silver bark, relatively disease free.
- 'Cruzam'
- 'Cruzam', 'Inermis'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Cruzam'
Thornless and disease resistant. - 'Inermis'
Virtually thornless, early white blooms, abundant red fruit and attractive silver bark, relatively disease free.
- 'Cruzam'
- 'Cruzam', 'Inermis'
- Tags:
-
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Crataegus
- Species:
- crus-galli
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- 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:
- Important nectar flower for insects; food plant of many moths including the eggar moth; haws provide winter fruit and cover for songbirds. This plant also 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. Good nesting habitat with thorns providing protection from predators.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Edible fruit
- Screening
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Nesting
- Edibility:
- Fruit can be eaten raw or cooked and used in jellies, but most people leave it for the birds.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 35 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 35 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Horizontal
- Pyramidal
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
- Appendage:
- Thorns
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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
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- more than 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
- Fruit Type:
- Pome
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Small deep-red pome with 1 to 5 pyrenes that resemble the “stones” in related plums, peaches, etc. Sometimes called the ‘haw’.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Corymb
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Two to three inch corymbs of 1/2 inch flowers bloom in April-May. Initially, the fragrance is pleasant, but soon turns to a fishy odor that attracts midges for pollination.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Orange
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Obovate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Dark green leaves, spirally arranged on long shoots with lobed or serrated margins. Wedge-shaped, obovate to oblong-ovate leaf turns orange to scarlet to purple in the Fall.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Fissured
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Smooth, thin, and gray bark, fissuring with age. On old stems, the bark breaks up into thin, narrow scales.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Slope/Bank
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Flowering Tree
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Security
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Fire
