English Hawthorn seeds

Habitat

native to Europe
hardy to zone 4
Habit and Form

a deciduous tree
15′ to 20′ tall with an equal spread
rounded tree crown
slow growth rate
medium texture

Summer Foliage

alternate leaf arrangement
simple, deciduous leaves
2.5″ long
lobed, rounded
serrulate leaf margins
dark green leaf color
Autumn Foliage

not ornamentally important
Flowers

white flowers
blooms in mid May
flowers borne in corymbs

Fruit

a red pome
0.5″ in diameter
matures early to mid fall
birds eat fruit

Bark

grayish brown bark
apple-like
zigzag stem pattern
1″ long thorns along branches
Culture

easy to grow
prefers moist, fertile soil
prune tolerant
full sun is best
Landscape Use

specimen tree
screen border
prune into hedge
Liabilities

thorns can be hazardous
tends to have many pest problems similar to apple trees
hawthorn leaf spot and blight (Entomosporium)
ID Features

1″ long thorns along stems
a medium-sized deciduous tree
15′ to 20′ tall and 15′ to 20′ wide
broad, rounded tree
serrulate leaf margins
simple, lobed leaves

Propagation

by cuttings
Cultivars/Varieties

‘Crimson Cloud’ – A form with red flowers that are single and contain a white region in the center. The fruit is shiny red, and the plant is supposedly more resistant to leaf blight than ‘Paul’s Scarlet’.

‘Paul’s Scarlet’ (also known as ‘Paulii’) – This common cultivar features double flowers that are dark rose to red. It’s stunning in flower, but very susceptible to hawthorn leaf spot and blight. Grows to 20′ tall.

‘Snowbird’ (C. x mordenensis) – This plant is a Canadian selection of a hybrid with C. succulenta. The flowers are white and double, but fruit set is reportedly less than other forms. Also may be hardier than ‘Toba’, but disease resistance accounts vary widely, with some observers claiming severe leaf spot defoliation.

‘Toba’ (C. x mordenensis) – This plant is a Canadian selection of a hybrid with C. succulenta. It features double white blooms that age to pink and red fruit. The 12′-15′ tall plants are marketed as being leaf spot-resistant, but reports vary on this account.