'Crusader' is a new cultivar of the Thornless Cockspur Hawthorn, Crataegus crus-galli inermis. It is a selection that is a little more compact, has good flower and fruit production, and does not suffer any Cedar rust on the fruits. I remember one landscape architect who was angry with me because I pruned off some bottom thorns on a mother species tree at a nursery to make it less deadly, as the straight species has such long, sharp thorns. He liked the thorns for their wonderful texture, but I was thinking of the safety of the family buying it. Anyway, the thornless selections are perfectly beautiful and are safe, like this one.

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