Hawthorn, English
Crataegus laevigata
Rosaceae - Rose
Description
Leaves: Alternate; simple; broad ovate; 1" to 2-1/2" long and nearly as wide; deciduous; fairly flat across the bottom, with 3 to 5 finely toothed, distinct lobes; dark green and glabrous in summer, turning yellow-orange to brown in fall; petiole 1/4" to 3/4" long.
Twigs/buds: Twigs greenish; glabrous; thorns are fairly short, 1/2" to 1" long, and may not be present.
Flowers/fruit: Flowers perfect, sometimes white, but often pink, or red, depending on cultivar; 5/8" diameter; often doubled. Fruit a 1/4" to 1/2" diameter pome, orange-red to deep red when mature, fairly dull; persistent into winter.
Bark: Similar to other Crataegus species: dark red to grayish; shreddy, scaly or sometimes blocky when young; weakly furrowed, ridged, scaly, and often fluted or knotted when older.
Wood: Likely similar to other Crataegus species: heartwood reddish-brown, sapwood light-colored; hard, heavy; diffuse-porous, close-grained; used to make handles for tools and canes.
General: Native to Europe and northern Africa. Also called C. oxyacantha by some. Seems to be adaptable to a variety of sites. Shade intolerant. Thorns or spines that can be dangerous; use thornless varieties if possible.
Landscape Use: A small tree up to about 20' tall, with a rounded canopy. Often seen in a pink to nearly red-flowered form; very beautiful. Older trunks of the trees I have seen in Logan split into longitudinal segments, almost like a twisted bundle of 1" to 2" diameter stems. Sometimes fall color can be fairly nice. Zones 4-8.
Cultivars: 'Autumn Glory', 'Crimson Cloud', 'Paul's Scarlet', 'Plena', 'Rosea', 'Rosea Flore Plena', var rubra.
Characteristics
General
Family | Rosaceae - Rose |
---|---|
Cultivar Availability | Yes |
Hardiness Zone | 4-8 |
Type | Broadleaf |
Utah Native | No |
Growth
Growth Rate | Medium |
---|---|
Mature Height | Low |
Longevity | Medium |
Is Good Under Power Lines | Yes |
Crown Shapes | Rounded |
Ornamental
Bark | Yes |
---|---|
Fall Color | Yes |
Flowers | Yes |
Foliage | No |
Fruit | Yes |
Tolerance
Shade | Low |
---|---|
Salt | Medium |
Drought | Medium |
Poor Drainage | Medium |
Alkalinity | High |
Transplanting | Medium |