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Crataegus nitida is often confused with:
Crataegus viridis
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Crataegus crus-galli Crataegus crusgalli var. pyricanthifolia - flowers
Crataegus mollis Crataegus mollis
Crataegus phaenopyrum Crataegus phaenopyrum
Crataegus nitida has some common disease problems:
Fire Blight

Hawthorn Crataegus nitida

Phonetic Spelling
kre-TEE-gus NI-ti-duh
Description

Crataegus, or Hawthorn, is a genus of a small tree or shrub that includes many species and varieties found throughout the Southeast from the eastern swamps and river bottoms to the western mountain ridges. Crataegus nitida, or Glossy Hawthorn, is a tree found primarily along the Mississippi River floodplain although it is becoming rare. It has a dense rounded crown which is often irregular in appearance, with lower limbs sweeping outwards under the erect upper limbs. It also can be found growing as a multi-trunk shrub. The stems can have up to 2-inch long thorns although they are sometimes stunted or not present. It grows in slightly acidic to alkaline clay to gritty sandy soils in sun to light shade.

The 2-inch racemes of white flowers can be showy although they don't have a pleasant odor. The leaves are glossy and have a red-orange fall color. The red fruit is edible and sometimes used for jellies.

Glossy Hawthorn grows well in moist, well-drained soils in full sun. It tolerates a wide range of soil, including clay, light shade, some drought, and urban pollutants. Although this tree is drought and pollution tolerant, it is not a great landscape tree due to its susceptibility to disease and insects. It is best used in native restorations. It can also be pruned to a low height and, with its formidable thorns, used as a barrier plant on property borders or in hedges.

Insect, Disease, and Plant Problems:

Fireblight and rusts can be problematic with this species, as can various borers and mites. Thorns can present a hazard to children.

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#thorns#deciduous#small tree#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#white flowers#orange leaves#red leaves#winter interest#fall interest#security plant#flowering tree#air pollution tolerant#dappled shade#stream banks#fire low flammability#large shrub#glossy leaves#red fruits#spring interest#pollinator plant#flowers late spring#larval host plant#urban conditions tolerant#bird friendly#nectar plant late spring#butterfly friendly#nectar plant midspring#partial shade tolerant#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#red-spotted purple butterfly#gray hairstreak butterfly#viceroy butterflies#wildlife friendly#woodland
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#thorns#deciduous#small tree#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#white flowers#orange leaves#red leaves#winter interest#fall interest#security plant#flowering tree#air pollution tolerant#dappled shade#stream banks#fire low flammability#large shrub#glossy leaves#red fruits#spring interest#pollinator plant#flowers late spring#larval host plant#urban conditions tolerant#bird friendly#nectar plant late spring#butterfly friendly#nectar plant midspring#partial shade tolerant#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#red-spotted purple butterfly#gray hairstreak butterfly#viceroy butterflies#wildlife friendly#woodland
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Crataegus
    Species:
    nitida
    Family:
    Rosaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    The wood is strong, hard, and heavy, but has little commercial value.
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Northern and Eastern United States
    Distribution:
    AR, IL, MO, OH, PA, TN, WI
    Fire Risk Rating:
    low flammability
    Wildlife Value:
    This plant provides nectar for pollinators. 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.
    Play Value:
    Wildlife Food Source
    Edibility:
    The edible fruit are eaten by birds much more than by humans.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Shrub
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Dense
    Erect
    Horizontal
    Multi-stemmed
    Multi-trunked
    Rounded
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Coarse
    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:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    24-60 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Showy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Spring
    Winter
    Fruit Type:
    Pome
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    3/8 inch rounded reddish fruits ripen in the fall and may persist till spring. Enjoyed by birds.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Corymb
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Dome
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    White dome-shaped flowers in corymbs of 10 to 20 blooms appear in April-May and have an unpleasant odor that attracts midges for fertilization. Individual flowers are 1/2 inch long.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Orange
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Oblong
    Obovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Lobed
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    The alternate 1 to 3 inch leaves are elliptic to oblong-obovate. The margins are coarsely serrated and slightly lobed, while the apex is acuminate and the base cuneate. The leaf undersides are paler than their dark green upper surfaces. Fall color is orange-red.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Gray
    Light Gray
    Surface/Attachment:
    Scaly
    Bark Description:
    Bark is thin and gray. Mature trunk bark broken into gray-brown plate-like scales.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Stems are chestnut brown and sometimes have thorns depending on their age.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Barrier
    Flowering Tree
    Hedge
    Mass Planting
    Screen/Privacy
    Security
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Fire
    Pollution
    Problems:
    Problem for Children
    Spines/Thorns