Hawthorn Crataegus phaenopyrum

Washington hawthorn, a deciduous tree in the Roseaceae (rose) family is noted for its attractive flowers and foliage, bright red fruits long straight thorns, and fall color. It is a small, low-branching, deciduous tree that typically grows 25 to 30 feet tall with a rounded crown. Crataegus is a genus of shrubs or small trees native to North Carolina where it is often found in low swamps and river bottoms to the east and higher mountain ridges of the west.  

Washington Hawthorn prefers full sun. It will grow in partial shade, although this will impact the level of flowering and fruit. It tolerates urban pollution, prefers well-drained soil, and is pH adaptable. It will grown in heavy clay soil. Because it is thorny and tolerates extensive pruning, it can be grown as a hedge for a screen or security, planted in small groups, as a specimen in a lawn, or a street tree. The fruit of this plant is sometimes called the haw. Haw also means hedge, making hawthorn mean thorny hedge. When grown from seed, trees take from 5 to 8 years before bearing fruit; grafted trees will often flower heavily in their third year.

This plant has spike-like thorns (1 to 3 inches) and strong wood with a gray trunk. There are thornless cultivars for this plant such as 'Princeton Sentry' and 'Fastigiata'. It boasts orange, and scarlet to purple fall foliage.  It is the last hawthorn to flower and is also the most heat tolerant hawthorn.  It is tolerant of a wide range of soils but prefers moist, well-drained loam and to be planted in the full sun. 

Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: Insect pests include borers, caterpillars, lace bugs, leafminers, and scale. The Washington hawthorn shows good resistance to cedar-apple rust. Fire blight, fungal leaf spots, powdery mildew, cankers, and apple scab are occasional problems.