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Hawthorn Crataegus senta

Other Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Crataegus flava
Phonetic Spelling
krah-TEE-gus sen-TUH
Description

Crataegus, or Hawthorn, is a deciduous shrub or small tree in the rose family containing many species and varieties. Crataegus senta, or Rough Hawthorn is a larger native species, reaching 50 feet in height with a broad, open crown. Although uncommon in North Carolina, it can be found in the mountains in dry pine woods, open scrub and sand plain. Like most hawthorns, Rough Hawthorn has long, straight thorns, white blossoms that bloom in the spring, and edible red fruit that appears in the fall.

Rough hawthorn prefers dry or sandy soils.

Conservation status G2- Critically Imperiled 

Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems:

No known disease or pest issues.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#small tree#shrub#native tree#moth caterpillar host#nectar plant#native shrub#cover plant#small mammals#NC native#edible fruits#pollinator plant#Braham Arboretum#larval host plant#NC Native Pollinator Plant#bird friendly#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#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#small tree#shrub#native tree#moth caterpillar host#nectar plant#native shrub#cover plant#small mammals#NC native#edible fruits#pollinator plant#Braham Arboretum#larval host plant#NC Native Pollinator Plant#bird friendly#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#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Crataegus
    Species:
    senta
    Family:
    Rosaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    The leaves, berries, and flowers are used in medicines and herbals for cardiovascular health. The wood is strong, tough, and heavy, but has little commercial value.
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    South Eastern United States
    Distribution:
    N. America: AL, GA, FL, LA, NC, SC
    Wildlife Value:
    Important nectar flower for insects and other pollinators; food plant of many moths including the eggar moth; haws provide winter fruit for songbirds. 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. Good nesting habitat with thorns providing protection from predators
    Play Value:
    Attracts Pollinators
    Edible fruit
    Wildlife Cover/Habitat
    Wildlife Food Source
    Edibility:
    Fruit is edible.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Native Plant
    Perennial
    Shrub
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Broad
    Dense
    Multi-stemmed
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Appendage:
    Thorns
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil Drainage:
    Occasionally Dry
    NC Region:
    Mountains
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Pome
    Fruit Description:
    Small deep red pome with 3-5 pyrenes that resemble the “stones” in related plums, peaches, etc. Sometimes called the ‘haw’.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Corymb
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Cup
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Inflorescense 3 to 7 flowered. Blooms from April to May. Initial unpleasant odor that attracts midges for pollination.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Cuneate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Crenate
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Description:
    Spirally arranged on long shoots, roughly pubescent; petiole approx. 30-40% blade; cuneate with 1-2 well-defined lobes per side distally, margins crenate to serrate almost to base.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Gray
    Light Gray
    Surface/Attachment:
    Fissured
    Scaly
    Smooth
    Bark Description:
    Thorns on branches straight to slightly recurved; new growth pubescent turning purplish brown to red; bark smooth and gray, fissuring with scales as the tree ages.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Slope/Bank
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Barrier
    Flowering Tree
    Hedge
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Small Mammals
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Dry Soil
    Pollution