Entangled Hawthorn Crataegus intricata
Other Common Name(s):
- Description
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Entangled Hawthorn is a small native hawthorn that is typically found in open or rocky woodlands, meadows or fields or man-made disturbed areas. Well-drained soil is a must but it grows in a wide variety of soil types and tolerates highly alkaline soils well. It easily forms dense thickets and with its thorns, it makes a good security plant. Tolerates drought, air pollution, and wind. Grows from seed but does best if you plant directly from ripened fruit in the fall for germination next spring. Stored seed may need acid scarification or cold/hot stratification for 120 days.
Critical features for identification of Crataegus sp.: Flower size, number of stamens, color of anthers, shape and hairiness of the leaves, terminal points of the lateral leaf veins, hairiness of the pedicels, length and curvature of the thorns, and characteristics of the fruit.
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Crataegus
- Species:
- intricata
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The leaves, berries, and flowers are used in medicines and herbals for cardiovascular health.
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North America, NC
- Distribution:
- Eastern North America
- Wildlife Value:
- Native bees nectar at the flowers. Important nectar flower for insects; food plant of many moths including the eggar moth; haws provide winter fruit for songbirds. Good nesting habitat with thorns providing protection from predators.
- Play Value:
- Edible fruit
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Nesting
- Edibility:
- The fruits are edible and sweet but mealy.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Shrub
- Tree
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Appendage:
- Thorns
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- 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
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Usda Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Green
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Pome
- Fruit Description:
- Pome with 1-5 pyrenes that resemble the “stones” in related plums, peaches, etc. Sometimes called the ‘haw’.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- 5 petaled white flowers in the spring. Have both male and female parts are pollinated by midges and bees.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Spirally arranged on long shoots. Lobed or serrated margins, broadest at or below the middle.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Gray
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Fissured
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Branches with curved thorns 1-1.5” long; bark smooth and gray, fissuring with age.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Bud Scales:
- Enclosed in more than 2 scales
- Stem Description:
- Stems are brown and red. Winter buds have three or more scales overlapped like shingles
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Hedge
- Security
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Erosion
- Pollution
- Wind
