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English Hawthorne Crataegus rhipidophylla

Previously known as:

  • Crataegus laevigata
  • Crataegus oxyacantha
Phonetic Spelling
krah-TEE-gus rip-pid-oh-FIL-uh
Description

Crataegus, or Hawthorn, is a deciduous shrub or small tree and includes many species and varieties. Crataegus oxycantha, or English hawthorn, is native to Europe and North Africa and is noted for its profuse spring bloom. It typically grows 15 to 20 feet tall with a rounded crown. Like most Hawthorns, the English hawthorn, has straight to zigzag, thorny stems, white blossoms, and dark green leaves. The English hawthorn does not display fall color, but the presence of thorns and its tolerance for pruning, make it a good candidate as a hedge and it is widely planted in England as a hedgerow.

The plant displays clusters of white five-petaled flowers in mid-spring followed by red fruits (pomes to 1/2 inch long) in fall. Many cultivars of English hawthorn, some featuring double flowers, are available in commerce today with flower colors including pink, rose, red and white.  English hawthorn is one of the few shade-tolerant hawthorn species, growing in shaded parts of European forests.

Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems: This tree generally does not grow well in the hot and humid summers. Untreated fungal leaf spot and rust can severely disfigure the foliage. Pests can includer leaf iners, aphids tent caterpillars, spider mites and scale.

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#thorns#showy flowers#deciduous#shade tree#full sun tolerant#street tree#showy fruits#stream banks#fire low flammability#spring interest#screening#pollinator plant#larval host plant#nectar plant late spring#butterfly friendly#nectar plant midspring#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#red-spotted purple butterfly#gray hairstreak butterfly#viceroy butterflies#cool summers#hedge#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#thorns#showy flowers#deciduous#shade tree#full sun tolerant#street tree#showy fruits#stream banks#fire low flammability#spring interest#screening#pollinator plant#larval host plant#nectar plant late spring#butterfly friendly#nectar plant midspring#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#red-spotted purple butterfly#gray hairstreak butterfly#viceroy butterflies#cool summers#hedge#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Crataegus
    Species:
    rhipidophylla
    Family:
    Rosaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Wood is strong, heavy, and hard, but has little commercial value.
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Europe, North Africa
    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:
    Attractive Flowers
    Attracts Pollinators
    Buffer
    Screening
    Wildlife Food Source
    Edibility:
    Fruits are large and edible.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Rounded
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Coarse
    Appendage:
    Thorns
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
    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
    Available Space To Plant:
    12-24 feet
    24-60 feet
    more than 60 feet
    NC Region:
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Pome
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Red fruits (pomes to 1/2 inch long) in fall.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Corymb
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Cup
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    White five-petaled flowers in clusters (corymbs) bloom from April to May. Can have an unpleasant odor, which attracts midges for pollination.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Insignificant
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Ovate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Three to five-lobed, dark green leaves (to 2 1/2 inches long). No fall color.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Light Gray
    Surface/Attachment:
    Scaly
    Bark Description:
    Thin, gray bark that breaks up into narrow scales on older branches.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Slope/Bank
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Barrier
    Flowering Tree
    Screen/Privacy
    Security
    Shade Tree
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Fire
    Pollution