Hawthorn Crataegus rhipidophylla
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Hawthorn:
Previously known as:
- Crataegus laevigata
- Crataegus oxyacantha
- Phonetic Spelling
- krah-TEE-gus rip-pid-oh-FIL-uh
- Description
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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:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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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.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
- Appendage:
- Thorns
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Scaly
- Bark Description:
- Thin, gray bark that breaks up into narrow scales on older branches.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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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
