Crataegus munda
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Crataegus invicta
- Crataegus pexa
- Phonetic Spelling
- krah-TEE-gus MUN-duh
- Description
-
Dwarf Hawthorn is a native shrub found in the sandhills of NC south to FL. It is considered rare in NC and is found in pine/scrub oak stands and other dry brushy places. It grows only 3- 5 feet tall and wide making it the smallest of the hawthorns. The white flowers appear in early spring and are followed by reddish pomes that attract birds. The stems are loaded with thorns and provide protection for small mammals and birds.
This plant prefers drier sites in sandy soils in sun to partial shade. It could potentially be used as a native wildlife plant in a naturalized area. It is not generally commercially sold.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- var. pexa
- var. pexa
- var. pexa
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- var. pexa
- var. pexa
- var. pexa
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Crataegus
- Species:
- munda
- 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:
- Southeastern U.S.A., NC
- Distribution:
- GA, SC, AL, FL, MS, 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
- Edible fruit
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Growth Rate:
- 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:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- 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:
- Small red pome with 1-5 pyrenes that resemble the “stones” in related plums, peaches, etc. Sometimes called the ‘haw’. Matures Sept.- Oct.
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-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 1 or 2 flowers per inflorescence with 5-lobed calyx, 5 petals, usually 20 stamens (anthers usually white or yellow). Blooms March-April
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cuneate
- Spatulate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Lobed
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- 1-1.5 inch long leaves are spatulate to cuneate, base narrowly cuneate, tips are rounded, lobes 0 or 3 per side distally, margins serrulate-crenate on the distal 1/2 with glandular teeth. Stems sometimes winged for half its length
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Gray
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Bark smooth and gray.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- New growth is green with appressed hairs. Older stems are purple-brown, slender, straight and have numerous thorns
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Barrier
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
