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These thorny, deciduous trees are a member of the Rosaceae family. Hawthorn have four season appeal with spring
flowers in white, pink or red, glossy green leaves in summer, red fruit (knowns as Haws) and foliage in autumn,
and twisting, irregular, gnarled habit with exfoliating bark in winter. Leaves are alternating, either simple or lobed.
In the landscape, hawthorns have rounded, shrubby habits with crowded, thorny branches emerging low on the
trunk. Challenges come not only from dealing the spine covered growth, but also that many hawthorn species are
susceptible to disease and pest problems. It can take a long time for hawthorns to mature enough to flower-
anywhere from ten years in the ground, or up to twenty years for those raised in a pot.
Hardiness: Zone 4 or 5 in the landscape. Winter protection required.
Light: Full sun to partial shade. Ensure a location with good air circulation to resist fungal infections.
Soil: Tolerant of a variety of soil conditions. Keep well drained for best growth.
Watering: Never allow soil to dry out completely. Water regularly and thoroughly, as they tolerate slightly moister
conditions as opposed to overly dry ones.
Fertilizer: Every two weeks in spring with either a high nitrogen to induce strong growth, or high phosphorus and
potassium for flowers and fruit, depending on your goal. Switch to a low nitrogen in late summer.
Pests and Diseases: Rusts, mildews, leaf blight, aphids, scale and caterpillars.
Repotting: Every one to two years in early spring for younger trees, when buds extend. Three to five years for
older trees.
Pruning and Styling: Trim new growth to one or two leaves in summer. Repeat in autumn if necessary, pruning
back hard. Do heavy pruning in late winter or early spring, as larger wounds can take a long time to heal over.
Wire at any point during the growing season, but spring is best. Larger branches grow very slowly, so wire can be
left on for a long time.
Propagation: Softwood cuttings in summer. Seeds: remove from fruit as soon as ripe and sow outside.
Styles and Forms: Curved trunk, slanted, windswept, literati, root over rock, multiple trunk styles.
Species and Cultivars: C. cuneata Japanese Hawthorn. Single white blossoms. Yellow fall colour. Vibrant dramatic
1-inch fruit. Zone 5.
C. laevigata/C. oxycantha Midland Hawthorn/English Hawthorn. Can reach up to 25 feet tall when grown in the
landscape. Less hardy than the Common Hawthorn. 'Crimson Cloud' Clustered single red flowers with white star
center. Shiny red fruits, dark green leaves with little to no fall colour. Resistant to leaf blight. 'Paul's Scarlet' deep
pink double flowers, prone to leaf blight. Zone 5.
C. monogyna Common (single seed) Hawthorn, May or Quickthorn. Fragrant white blossom clusters, dark red fruit.
Large number of thorns. Deeply 3-7 lobed, broad ovate or diamond shapes foliage. Can grow over thirty feet tall in
the landscape. Zone 4.
C. phaenopyrum Washington Hawthorn. Clusters of white flowers. Glossy green leaves with orange and red autumn
colour. Shiny red fruit. Zone 5.
C. viridis 'Winter King' Winter King Green Hawthorn. White flowers, glossy green leaves with red autumn colour.
Scarlet fruit through late winter. Zone 4.
Other Information:
flowers in white, pink or red, glossy green leaves in summer, red fruit (knowns as Haws) and foliage in autumn,
and twisting, irregular, gnarled habit with exfoliating bark in winter. Leaves are alternating, either simple or lobed.
In the landscape, hawthorns have rounded, shrubby habits with crowded, thorny branches emerging low on the
trunk. Challenges come not only from dealing the spine covered growth, but also that many hawthorn species are
susceptible to disease and pest problems. It can take a long time for hawthorns to mature enough to flower-
anywhere from ten years in the ground, or up to twenty years for those raised in a pot.
Hardiness: Zone 4 or 5 in the landscape. Winter protection required.
Light: Full sun to partial shade. Ensure a location with good air circulation to resist fungal infections.
Soil: Tolerant of a variety of soil conditions. Keep well drained for best growth.
Watering: Never allow soil to dry out completely. Water regularly and thoroughly, as they tolerate slightly moister
conditions as opposed to overly dry ones.
Fertilizer: Every two weeks in spring with either a high nitrogen to induce strong growth, or high phosphorus and
potassium for flowers and fruit, depending on your goal. Switch to a low nitrogen in late summer.
Pests and Diseases: Rusts, mildews, leaf blight, aphids, scale and caterpillars.
Repotting: Every one to two years in early spring for younger trees, when buds extend. Three to five years for
older trees.
Pruning and Styling: Trim new growth to one or two leaves in summer. Repeat in autumn if necessary, pruning
back hard. Do heavy pruning in late winter or early spring, as larger wounds can take a long time to heal over.
Wire at any point during the growing season, but spring is best. Larger branches grow very slowly, so wire can be
left on for a long time.
Propagation: Softwood cuttings in summer. Seeds: remove from fruit as soon as ripe and sow outside.
Styles and Forms: Curved trunk, slanted, windswept, literati, root over rock, multiple trunk styles.
Species and Cultivars: C. cuneata Japanese Hawthorn. Single white blossoms. Yellow fall colour. Vibrant dramatic
1-inch fruit. Zone 5.
C. laevigata/C. oxycantha Midland Hawthorn/English Hawthorn. Can reach up to 25 feet tall when grown in the
landscape. Less hardy than the Common Hawthorn. 'Crimson Cloud' Clustered single red flowers with white star
center. Shiny red fruits, dark green leaves with little to no fall colour. Resistant to leaf blight. 'Paul's Scarlet' deep
pink double flowers, prone to leaf blight. Zone 5.
C. monogyna Common (single seed) Hawthorn, May or Quickthorn. Fragrant white blossom clusters, dark red fruit.
Large number of thorns. Deeply 3-7 lobed, broad ovate or diamond shapes foliage. Can grow over thirty feet tall in
the landscape. Zone 4.
C. phaenopyrum Washington Hawthorn. Clusters of white flowers. Glossy green leaves with orange and red autumn
colour. Shiny red fruit. Zone 5.
C. viridis 'Winter King' Winter King Green Hawthorn. White flowers, glossy green leaves with red autumn colour.
Scarlet fruit through late winter. Zone 4.
Other Information:
Hawthorn (Crataegus)