Washington Hawthorn Crataegus phaenopyrum
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Washington Hawthorn:
Previously known as:
- Cotoneaster cordatus
- Crataegus populifolia
- Phonetic Spelling
- krah-TAY-gus fay-no-PYE-rum
- Description
-
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.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Clark'
Heavy fruiter. - 'Fastigiata'
Columnar growth form with smaller flowers and fruits, almost thornless.. - 'Princeton Sentry'
alMost thornless, vigorous growth, 30' x 20', upright branches. - 'Winter King'
- 'Clark'
- 'Clark', 'Fastigiata', 'Princeton Sentry', 'Winter King'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Clark'
Heavy fruiter. - 'Fastigiata'
Columnar growth form with smaller flowers and fruits, almost thornless.. - 'Princeton Sentry'
alMost thornless, vigorous growth, 30' x 20', upright branches. - 'Winter King'
- 'Clark'
- 'Clark', 'Fastigiata', 'Princeton Sentry', 'Winter King'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Crataegus
- Species:
- phaenopyrum
- Family:
- Roseaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The wood is strong, tough, heavy, and hard, but has little commercial value.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Grafting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeastern North America
- Distribution:
- Virginia to Georgia, Illinois to Kansas.
- 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. Hummingbirds and butterflies nectar from the blooms. Songbirds like cedar waxwings, quail, wild turkeys and small mammals eat the fruit. The dense branches provide nesting protection.
- Play Value:
- Edible fruit
- Fragrance
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Washington hawthorn shows good resistance to cedar-apple rust. This plant is highly resistant to damage from deer.
- Edibility:
- The fruit can be eaten, raw or cooked. A dry flesh and very small, it often hangs on the tree all winter.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 25 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Native Plant
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Oval
- Pyramidal
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
- 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:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Very Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Pome
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Glossy red pome clusters in the fall, September to November and lasting through the winter. Bright red, shiny, 1/4 inch wide with edible flesh.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Corymb
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- White flat-topped corymbs appear from April to June and last up to 10 days. Terminal and axillary corymbs with up to 50 1/2 inch flowers, white, 20 stamens, pink anthers, ½ inch wide. Odor may be unpleasant and attracts midges for fertilization.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Orange
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Dark green triangular leaves, glossy, simple, alternate, lobed with serrate margins, ovate 1 to 3 inches long and 1/4 to 2 1/4 inches wide. Leaf base is truncate with an acute apex. Red, orange, to purple fall color. Alternate, simple, 1-3" long, triangular-ovate with serrated, 3-5 lobed margin. Dark green above, lighter below. 1" long petiole.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Light Brown
- Surface/Attachment:
- Peeling
- Bark Plate Shape:
- Round
- Bark Description:
- Thin, gray bark that breaks up into narrow scales as the tree ages. Bark will fall off in flakes revealing and orange-red inner bark. Flat and plate-like with thorns on it.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Buds:
- Smooth/Hairless
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Form:
- Zig Zags
- Stem Description:
- Slender, brown stems have 1"-3" long thorns.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Edible Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Security
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Fire
- Heat
- Pollution
- Urban Conditions
- Problems:
- Frequent Insect Problems
- Spines/Thorns