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:

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. 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:

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.

Whole Plant Traits:
Plant Type:

Native Plant

Shrub

Tree

Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:

Deciduous

Growth Rate:

Medium

Appendage:

Thorns

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

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.

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-May.

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

Bark:
Bark Color:

Dark Gray

Light Gray

Surface/Attachment:

Smooth

Bark Description:

Bark smooth and gray.

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

Landscape:
Landscape Location:

Coastal

Naturalized Area

Landscape Theme:

Butterfly Garden

Native Garden

Pollinator Garden

Design Feature:

Barrier

Attracts:

Butterflies

Pollinators

Small Mammals

Songbirds

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Crataegus munda

Common Name(s):

Previously known as: