Lavalle Hawthorn Crataegus x lavalleei
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- krah-TEE-gus la-VAHL-lay-ee
- Description
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Lavalle Hawthorn is a small tree or large shrub in the rose family that is a hybrid between two hawthorns found in 1870 at the Arboretum Segrez in France. The Arboretum was acquired by Pierre Alphonse Martin Lavelle in 1856. He was a 19th century botanist and horticulturist. Further development of this hybrid was accomplished by him, and bears his name.
It will grow 15-30 feet tall with a dense rounded to irregular form. It may also grow as a multi-stemmed shrub. White flowers occur in spring in clusters with a not so pleasant fragrance and are followed by red-orange berries in the fall that persist into winter. The leaves have good bronzy-red fall colors. Branches have thorns up to 2 inches long.
This variety will grow with a more erect and densely branched form than other varieties. Being multi-branched, it is sometimes grown as a large shrub.
It branches boast large thorns, that can be up to 2" long.
Plant this tree in average well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade. It will tolerate most soil types except wet ones and is drought tolerant once established. Use as a small flowering shade tree or as a hedge or barrier. The thorns prevent it from being used in walkways or children's areas.
Insects, Diseases, and other Plant Problems: Diseases are a problem with most hawthorns, although Lavelle Hawthorn is reported to have good resistance to rusts and fireblight. Other potential diseases include fungal leaf spots, powdery mildew, cankers, apple scab, leaf blight and twig blight. Potential insect pests include aphids, borers, caterpillars, lacebugs, leafminers, spider mites and scale.
Its thorns can be hazardous. Caution should be used when pruning.
Some call it a fragrance, others, an odor. It can be unpleasant to some, so locating this tree/shrub away from buildings is recommended.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Crataegus
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Barrier, lawn tree, street tree
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- France
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds and bees are attracted to this tree.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Colorful
- Edible fruit
- Fragrance
- Wildlife Food Source
- Edibility:
- Berries are edible but not so good.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Oval
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
- Appendage:
- Thorns
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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
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- 3/8 inch oval brick red to orange-red fruit with brown specks persists into winter.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Corymb
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- White flowers in spring in 3 inch corymbs.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Serrate
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 2-4"dark glossy dark green leaves turn bronzy to coppery-red in fall. Margins can be entire, serrated or wavy. Undersides are pubescent.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
- Bark Description:
- The brown/gray bark is often exfoliating slightly on older wood. When exfoliating, a showy orange/red/rust color under bark is exposed.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Often multistemmed
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Barrier
- Flowering Tree
- Hedge
- Shade Tree
- Specimen
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Fire
- Urban Conditions
- Problems:
- Frequent Disease Problems
- Frequent Insect Problems