Parsley Hawthorn Crataegus marshallii
- Phonetic Spelling
- kree-TEE-gus mar-SHALL-ee-eye
- Description
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Parsley hawthorn is a native tree to the southeastern United States. The decorative, finely-dissected leaves along with the dainty flowers, small red fruit, and beautiful bark all work together to make this one of the most ornamental of the hawthorns. It grows to about 25 feet tall and 15 feet wide and can be found in moist areas of the Piedmont and coastal planes. It sometimes grows as a multitrunked shrub.
Parsley Hawthorn grows in moist clay or sandy loams in full to partial sun. It is adaptable to garden soils. Use this tree in moist well-drained areas around ponds, streams, bogs or woodland sites.
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.
This plant is categorized as Facultative (FAC) to Facultative wetland (FACW).
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Crataegus
- Species:
- marshallii
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The leaves, berries, and flowers are used in medicines and herbals for cardiovascular health.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North America, NC
- Distribution:
- AL, AR, FL, GA, IL, KY, LA, MO, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA
- Wildlife Value:
- 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:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Some heat tolerance.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Broad
- Erect
- Open
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Appendage:
- Thorns
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- 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
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a, 9b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Pome
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- 1/3 inch red pome with 1-5 pyrenes that resemble the “stones” in related plums, peaches, etc. Sometimes called the ‘haw’. Fruit displays from September to October.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Saucer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 1-inch white flowers with red anthers appear in clusters from April to May.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The 1-inch ovate leaves have 5 to 7 short pointed lobes and serrated (or toothed) edges. They are shiny green on the upper surface and paler on the undersides. Spirally arranged on long shoots.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Gray
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
- Bark Description:
- Becomes exfoliating with age
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Smooth, thin, thorny stems are gray with mottles of brown,
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Pond
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Rain Garden
- Water Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
