Thornapple Crataegus pinnatifida
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Thornapple:
- Phonetic Spelling
- krah-TEE-gus pin-nat-ih-FY-duh
- Description
-
Crataegus, or Hawthorn, is a genus of shrub or small tree containing many species and varieties found throughout the Southeast from low swamps and river bottoms to higher mountain ridges. Crataegus pinnatifida, or Chinese Hawthorn, is a species native to Eastern Asia. Unlike most Hawthorns, this species has only a few short thorns and is more open and upright, but it does display the flowers and provide the red berries common to the genus. The edible fruit in particular makes it attractive to birds. The flowers have an unpleasant smell somewhat like decaying fish, which attracts midges, the main means of fertilization. When freshly open, the flowers have more pleasant scent.
Chinese Hawthorn is easily grown and prefers a well-drained moist loamy soil. Once established, it succeeds in excessively moist soils and also tolerates drought and heavy clay soils. It prefers full sun, but will tolerate partial shade, although the amount of sun will determine the quantity of fruit. Trees grown from seed take from 5 to 8 years before they start bearing fruit; grafted trees often flower heavily in their third year.
Diseases, Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known issues.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Crataegus
- Species:
- pinnatifida
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The wood is strong, heavy, tough, and hard, but has little commercial value.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Grafting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Russian Far East to China and Japan
- Distribution:
- Northern China and Korea
- 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.
- Edibility:
- The fruit is edible, raw or cooked, with a pleasant flavor. The orange fruit has a mealy texture with an acid taste and a slight bitterness but is fairly nice raw. It ripens fairly late. The fruit can be used in making pies, preserves, etc, and can also be dried for later use. In China, the fruit is an ingredient used in sweet and sour sauce.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 23 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 23 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Open
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
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:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Pome
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Globular, 3/4 inch light red fruit, edible, and attractive to birds.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Corymb
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- White, 3/4 inch flowers in 3 inch clusters. Flower blooms from April to May. Initially an unpleasant odor, but turning more pleasant.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are oval to wedge shaped, notched on the edges, 2 to 4 inches long with 5-9 lobes.
-
-
Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Scaly
- Bark Plate Shape:
- Irregular
- Bark Description:
- Bark is thin and gray. On old stems, it breaks up into narrow scales.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Form:
- Zig Zags
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Multi-stemmed, twiggy branches.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Flowering Tree
- Hedge
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Fire
- Pollution
- Wind
