Bigfruit Hawthorn Crataegus macrosperma
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- kree-TEE-gus mak-roh-SPERM-uh
- Description
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Crataegus, or Hawthorn, is a genus containing many species and varieties distributed across North Carolina from the low swamps and river bottoms of the east to the higher mountain ridges of the west. Crataegus macrosperma, or Bigfruit Hawthorn, is a native large shrub or small tree found in mesic or subxeric hardwood forests, wooded slopes, rock outcrops, pastures, thickets, mountain balds and rocky summits in the Piedmont and mountains of North Carolina. The tree may vary in shape and size and fruit production depending on where it is growing, because hybridization occurs easily with other hawthorns. Despite the common name, the fruit is not exceptionally large.
Like most Hawthorns, Bigfruit Hawthorn has long straight thorns, white flowers that bloom in spring. and edible fruits in fall. This tree prefers a well-drained moisture-retentive loamy soil but is not at all fussy and will tolerate clay soils. It also tolerates drought and wind, but does not do well with salt air. Fruiting is best in full sun. It will grow in partial shade, but that will impact the quantity and quality of the fruit. When grown from seed, the trees take 5 to 8 years before they start bearing fruit; grafted trees will often flower heavily in their third year. The flowers have a smell like decaying fish that attracts midges, which are the main means of fertilization. When freshly open, the flowers have more pleasant scent.
Serves as a host plant for the larvae of Gray hairstrea (Strymon melinus), Red-spotted purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax), and the Viceroy (Limenitis archippus) butterflies.
Diseases, Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known diseases or pests.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Crataegus
- Species:
- macrosperma
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The leaves, berries, and flowers are used in medicines and herbals for cardiovascular health. The wood is strong, heavy, and hard but has little commercial value.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern Canada and central and eastern United States.
- Distribution:
- AR, CT, DE, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV Canada: NB, NL, NS, ON
- Wildlife Value:
- 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). Good nesting habitat with thorns providing protection from predators.
- Play Value:
- Edible fruit
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Edibility:
- The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked. The fruit varies in size and quality, some forms having a thin yellow flesh that is juicy and acid while others have a much thicker flesh that is rather mealy but with a good flavor. The fruit can be used in making pies, preserves, etc, and can also be dried for later use.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 12 ft. 0 in. - 26 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 12 ft. 0 in. - 26 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
- 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:
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Pome
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Small 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:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- One of the earliest Hawthorns to bloom in the sprint, flowers bloom in April and May. Clusters of white flowers with 5 petals, 5-10 stamens and pink to reddish-purple anthers. Unpleasant odor attracts midges for fertilization.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Serrate
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- One to three inch oval to ovate leaves are sparse to densely glandular; base is rounded to cuneate, lobes 3 to 6 per side, apex acute to acuminate, margins serrate and irregulate in size.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Light Brown
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Fissured
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- The bark is thin and, on old stems, fissures with age in narrow scales.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Zig Zags
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- New growth golden green to strongly reddish tinged and glabrous. 1-year old stems usually shiny and dark brown, older stems with thorns.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Barrier
- Flowering Tree
- Hedge
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Pollution
- Wind
