Popular TreesSelect the right ornamental or fruit-bearing tree for your garden
Washington hawthorn tree . Photo : Frank Richards / Millette Photomedia .
Some flora such as hawthorn have stood the test of sentence , as evidenced by their rough-cut use in home and commercial landscape painting . These small trees are grown for their four - time of year ornamental sake , sturdy nature , and tolerance of vary atmospheric condition . aboriginal to temperate regions of North America , Europe , Asia , and North Africa , common names let in quickthorn , thornapple , mayflower , whitethorn , and hawberry .
Hawthorn Tree fall in the genusCrataegus , constitute hundreds of species in the Rose family unit ( Rosaceae ) . Here ’s how to grow and use haw in the landscape , along with a list of vulgar and garden - worthy varieties .
On this varlet : Basics|Planting|Care & Pruning|Choosing the Right Hawthorn|Pictures|Design
HAWTHORN BASICS
Botanical name:
genus Crataegus
Zones:
3 - 9
Size:
15 to 50 feet tall and 8 to 35 feet wide , depend on variety
Forms:
Deciduous trees with upright spreading or shaggy-coated habits ; some kind can be celebrate as shrub .
Exposure:
Full sun
Bloom Time:
Mid to late springiness
Flowers:
Fragrant ashen or pink five - petaled flowers resemble apple flower .
Foliage:
Hawthorn tree leaves are light-green , toothed and often lobed , in variegate form .
Fruit:
The fruits , which front similar to rose hips , are scarlet , orangish , icteric , or black . sort as pomes — as with apples and pears — the fruits are produce in fall and persevere through winter . The edible pome , which have various culinary and medicative qualities , are also an authoritative food author for robin redbreast , waxwings , and other songbirds .
Deer resistance:
Crataegusspecies are fairly deer resistant , though if hungry enough , deer will scrounge plants they normally would n’t .
Are hawthorn trees invasive?
Singleseed or common haw ( C. monogyna ) is view trespassing in many region . This species is also call off English hawthorn , not to be confused withC. laviegata , also referred to by the same common name . Plants are mainly open through seed .
PLANTING HAWTHORN TREES
Fruit on a Crusader ® haw tree . Photo by : Proven Winners .
When to plant:
Plant during milder months of bound or lessen to invalidate heat or inhuman stress .
Where to plant:
Choose a cheery situation with well - enfeeble dirt .
How to plant:
comprehend a planting hole 2 to 3 fourth dimension across-the-board than the diameter of the rootball and as deep . lend compost or manure to the planting hole * and dig it into the existing soil . Tease out roots if potbound , or make several slits in the rootball . Place plant in the hole with the top of the rootball slightly higher than the wall primer . Cover the side , but not the top , of the rootball with loose soil and tamp down gently to bump off air pockets . weewee thoroughly and again once or double hebdomadary through the first get time of year until show . If necessary , stake young tree to plump for against wind and to keep them growing straight .
- Note : It ’s unspoilt to sum up no more than 10 % compost or manure ( by mass ) into the live dirt as it can impede good establishment when the roots accomplish the edge of the " nice " soil and need to grow beyond into the unamended native soil .
CARE & PRUNING
Watering:
Hawthorn is drouth - liberal once show . urine regularly during the first year and during prolonged heating plant or teetotal spells . Do n’t overwater , as this can cause root rot and other fungous diseases .
Soil:
Hawthorns prefer well - amended grease that is tight - draining , but is liberal of clay or sand . Soil pH should be between 6.0 to 7.5 . Compacted filth or poor drain can leave in root rot .
Amendments & Fertilizer:
Hawthorns are light bird feeder . In springiness , apply a slow - vent plant food formulated for tree and shrubs fit in to instructions . Mulch with a bed of compost , pine shuck , or bark chip ( keeping off from the proboscis ) to conserve moisture and suppress weeds .
Pruning:
When cut , practice caveat to avoid accidental injury from the thorn . outwear heavy gloves , long sleeves , and goggles to protect your eye . In belated winter or early spring , remove damaged , morbid , or crossing branches and physical body as need . slew back any suckers around the base of the trunk .
Diseases and pests:
Good cultural practices can help staunch many trouble . There are a number of cuss and diseases that can affect hawthorns , though some potpourri are more resistant than others . One of the most common and prejudicious disease is fervor blight . Other disease include leaf spot , cedar hawthorn rust , powdery mould , cankers and apple scab . Pests admit borers , caterpillars , lacebugs , crust mites , aphids , leafminers , andscale .
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT HAWTHORN
With different sizes and forms of haw to pick out from , here are some tips to consider :
For borders and landscapes:
pick out varieties that will fit the scale of your property . depend on the size of it and mannequin , expend as a stand - alone focal point , hedging , screening , or as understructure plantings . They can also be mass in the landscape or naturalized in a hayfield setting . Make certain to allow elbow room for industrial plant to senesce without becoming crowded .
For containers:
Plant a smaller specimen in a container for twelvemonth - round appeal .
HAWTHORN PICTURES
photograph by : Frank Richards / Millette Photomedia .
Washington hawthornCrataegus phaenopyrum
Zones:3 - 9Height / Spread:20 - 30 feet tall and 20 - 25 feet wideColor : bloodless flowers , green leaf , red yield , gray barque . Fall leafage is brilliant vermilion , orange , and purple .
A southeastern U.S. native with a rounded dull canopy . Glossy leaves have pointed lobes and serrate boundary . clump of flowers appear in tardy spring and have a more or less unpleasant fragrance . Bright ruby-red fruit is a dearie of songbirds . Tolerant of oestrus , drouth , and poor stain , and one of the most insubordinate to fire blight . precipitous thorns make this a good choice to prune into a security hedge .
pic by : Przemyslaw Muszynski / Shutterstock .
English hawthornC. laevigata
Zones:5 - 8Height / Spread:15 - 20 feet marvellous and wideColor : immature leafage , white flowers , red fruit , insignificant fall color .
Also bonk as midland hawthorn , woodland hawthorn , or mayflower , this European native is usually grown as hedgerows in England . Valued for its attractive lobate foliage , flowers in outflow , and brilliant red fruit . patient of of alter uprise condition including pitiable soil , common salt , and urban pollution , making it a good alternative for cities and coastal expanse . jolly susceptible to leaf spot .
pic by : Gabriela Beres / Shutterstock .
' Paul ’s Scarlet ' English hawthornC. laevigata
Zones:5 - 8Height / Spread:20 - 25 feet tall and 15 - 20 feet wideColor : Green foliage , red flower , red yield , insignificant fall color .
Spectacular in spring with a profuseness of bivalent blood-red flowers that resemble atomiser of miniature rose wine . It can be acquire as a specimen tree diagram or hedge , and makes an attractive screen . yield is not eatable . Makes a good specimen tree for cottage and meadow gardens , suburban lots and curbside planting . Somewhat susceptible to foliage blight .
photograph by : Peter Turner Photography / Shutterstock .
' Crimson Cloud ' English hawthornC. laevigata
Zones:5 - 8Height / Spread:18 - 25 fundament marvelous and wideColor : Green foliage , blood-red bloom with livid centers , red fruit , undistinguished fall color .
A good relief for ‘ Paul ’s Scarlet ’ , as it is more resistant to leaf blight . Clusters of flush bloom profusely in mid - late spring . The dense canopy produces crossing branches with 1 - in thorns and glistening lobed leave . A lasting variety , tolerant of a wide variety of stain and growing conditions , making it a just pick as a street tree . Can be farm as a specimen tree diagram or hedging .
pic by : Paul S Drobot / Millette Photomedia .
' Winter King ' green hawthornC. viridis
Zones:4 - 7Height / Spread:20 - 35 feet marvelous and 20 - 25 substructure wideColor : White flowers , green foliage , red fruit , silver - gray-headed bark , purple - red fall leaf .
A pop landscape and street tree , this southeasterly U.S. native has a broad distribute crown . Fragrant prime flower profusely in mid leaping , follow by large fruits that persist into winter . placid gray barque exfoliates in larger specimens , adding winter interest . Fruits are comestible and an important winter food source for song birds . Nearly thornless , highly adaptable , and disease - resistant .
Photo by : Proven Winners .
Crusader ® ( syn . ' Cruzam ' ) cocksfoot hawthornC. crus-gallivar.inermis
Zones:3 - 7Height / Spread:15 - 30 feet tall and wideColor : White flowers , green foliage , red fruit , silver barque ; fall leaf is orangish , scarlet and purpleness .
A thornless variety with a graceful open canopy , horizontal fork , and is exceptionally brave . Foliage is oval , non - lobate , with exquisitely serrated edges . expectant red fruits stand out against the spectacular fall leafage . Disease - resistive , very adaptable and tolerant of urban pollution , clay soil , and salt . A good choice for curbside , public plantings , and other difficult sites .
exposure by : Snufkin_79 / Shutterstock .
Formosan hawthornC. pinnatifida
Zones:6 - 9Height / Spread:15 - 20 feet tall and 10 - 12 feet wideColor : White flowers , green leaf , red fruit .
Also known as Formosan haw or mountain haw . The odoriferous , 1 - column inch fruit can be eaten bracing , dried , or made into candy , jam , vino , or fresh and sour sauce . Chinese hawthorn is sturdy , drought - broad , and forgiving of various soil conditions . Varieties include ‘ Red Sun ’ and ‘ Autumn Golden Star ’ .
Photo by : Janis Skaldis / Shutterstock .
Russian hawthornC. ambigua
Zones:4 - 8Height / Spread:15 - 25 base tall and 15 - 20 feet wideColor : White flowers , green foliage , blood-red fruit that fades to over-embellished - opprobrious . Fall leaf is yellow , but coloring can be somewhat faint .
Horizontal fork and deeply lobate leaves are specially ornamental . The low canopy make it suited for planting under big businessman melodic phrase . Tolerant of unlike ground and urban environments , necessitate moderate water but is somewhat drouth - liberal once established . Plant as a specimen tree , in a natural meadow garden or landscape .
DESIGN TIPS
There are many ways to comprise hawthorn into your landscape . Here are just a few idea :
