Southern Hawthorn Crataegus viridis
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- krah-TEE-gus VEER-ih-diss
- Description
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Crataegus, or Hawthorn, is a small, deciduous shrub or tree that includes many species and varieties. Crataegus viridis, or Green Hawthorn, like most hawthorns, has gray, thorny bark, bears white flowers in the spring, and produces red fruit in the fall. However, unlike most hawthorns, the Green Hawthorn is resistant to leaf rust. It is native to the southeastern United States. Green Hawthorn is commonly found in bottom lands, swamps, and other wetlands in the Coastal Plain and adjacent Piedmont of North Carolina.
Green Hawthorn is a dense, rounded tree that typically grows 20-35’ tall with a broad spreading crown. When present, thorns grow to 1 1/2 inches long. Leaves turn purple to red in fall. Fruits, sometimes called haws, are technically edible, but are usually best left for the birds. Green Hawthorn is easy to grow in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun. It tolerates urban pollution, light shade, and drought, but moist, rich, fertile soils may encourage water sprout growth. The plant also tolerates pruning and can be shaped to a hedge in the landscape.
The cultivar 'Winter King’ is a popular variety of Green Hawthorn. It is disease-resistant, has a profuse bloom of flowers in the spring, larger fruits, silvery-barked stems and attractive fall color (purple and scarlet). It is an excellent landscape tree and is largely spineless, with only occasional small thorns (to 1.5 inches long). This plant is probably the most commonly available hawthorn on the market.
Diseases, Insects, and other Plant Problems:
A disease-resistant hawthorn, although there is some susceptibility to cedar hawthorn rust (rust stage where eastern red cedars are present in the area) and fireblight. Fungal leaf spots, powdery mildew, cankers and apple scab are occasional problems. Insect pests include borers, caterpillars, lacebugs, leafminers and scale.
VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Winter King'
Profuse bloom of flowers, larger fruits, silvery-barked stems, attractive fall color (purple and scarlet), few thorns.
- 'Winter King'
- 'Winter King'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Winter King'
Profuse bloom of flowers, larger fruits, silvery-barked stems, attractive fall color (purple and scarlet), few thorns.
- 'Winter King'
- 'Winter King'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Crataegus
- Species:
- viridis
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The wood is strong, heavy, and hard, but with little commercial value.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern United States
- Distribution:
- Virginia to Florida, west to Texas, and north to Illinois.
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds are attracted to the fruit in the fall and find nesting shelter amid the thorny branches. Host to nectar-bees, nectar-butterflies, and mammals seeking the fruit. Larval host for kings hairstreak, gray hairstreak, soapberry hairstreak, banded hairstreak, red-banded hairstreak.
- Edibility:
- Fruit is edible, but not of high quality. It can be used to make jelly, but is often left for the birds.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 35 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 35 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
- Appendage:
- Thorns
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Pome
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Flowers are followed by small red fruits that ripen in September and usually persist on the tree well into winter.
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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:
- Two inch cluster of small, five petaled, white flowers with an unpleasant odor that attracts midges for pollination.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Glossy dark green leaves (to 3 1/2 inches long) that are shallowly lobed in the upper half.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
- Scaly
- Bark Description:
- Thin, gray bark that breaks into narrow scales as the tree ages. Bark on mature trunks exfoliates to reveal orange inner bark.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Rain Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Flowering Tree
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Fire
- Pollution
