Hawthorn Crataegus intricata
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Hawthorn:
- Phonetic Spelling
- kree-TEE-gus in-tree-KAY-tuh
- Description
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Crataegus, or Hawthorn, includes many different species and varieties found throughout North Carolina, from swamps and river bottoms of the east to the higher mountain ridges of the west. Crataegus intricata, or Entangled Hawthorn, is a small native hawthorn typically found in open or rocky woodlands, meadows or fields or man-made disturbed areas. The plant has long, straight thorns, bears white blossoms in the spring, and produces edible fruit in the fall.
Well-drained soil is a must but it grows in a wide variety of soil types and tolerates highly alkaline soils well. Some Hawthorns are grown as ornamentals, but because C. intricata easily forms dense thickets, its thorns make it a good security plant. The plant tolerates drought, air pollution, and wind. However, it does not do well in salt air. The plant is not fussy and tolerates moist soils and tolerates drought and heavy clay soils. For best fruit production, site the plant in full sun; it will do well in semi-shade, but fruit yields are lower. It 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. When grown from seed, the trees take from 5 to 8 years before bearing fruit. The flowers have a smell like decaying fish, which attracts midges for pollination. When freshly open, the flowers have a more pleasant scent.
This plant is a host for the larvae of the Gray hairstreak (Strymon melinus), Red-spotted purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax), and the Viceroy (Limenitis archippus) butterflies.
Diseases, Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known disease or pest issues.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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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. The wood is strong, tough, heavy, and hard, but has little commercial value.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern North America
- Distribution:
- Maine to Georgia, Michigan to Oklahoma
- 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. 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:
- Edible fruit
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Nesting
- Edibility:
- The fruits are edible and sweet but mealy. Can be eaten raw, cooked or dried for later use. Hard dry flesh.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
- 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
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 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 Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- 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 Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- Five petaled white flowers in the spring. Have both male and female parts are pollinated by midges and bees. Flower blooms from April to May.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant 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 Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Oval or wedge-shaped leaves, spirally arranged on long shoots. Lobed or serrated margins, notched on the edges, 2 to 3 inches long, 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 to 1.5 inches 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:
- Butterfly Garden
- Edible Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Hedge
- Security
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Erosion
- Pollution
- Wind