Download Common Name: Washington Hawthorn Scientific Name: Crataegus

Common Name:
Washington Hawthorn
Scientific Name:
Crataegus phaenopyrum
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Description
Washington hawthorn is a
deciduous plant. Leaves change
colors throughout the year. In the
summer, the leaves emerge
reddish and mature to a dark green. The plant’s leaves during autumn are orange to a red fall
color and are moderately showy. It yields bright red berries, which are classified as pomes (along
with apples and pears) at the beginning of winter. The red berries are a major resource of food
for songbirds during the winter months. The leaves of Washington hawthorn are somewhat
triangular and are flat and thin. People must be careful around these types of plants because of
the development of multiple thorns on branches. The flowers of the Washington hawthorn are
showy and white and bloom around early June. These flowers only bloom for seven to ten days.
They develop and bloom in the spring and/or summer. This plant has perfect flowers, which
means that it has both male and female parts in each flower.
Growth Habit
Washington hawthorn grows in a pyramidal or egg shape. It grows at a medium rate of 13-24
inches per year. Over the Washington hawthorn’s life, it reaches a height of 20-35 feet with a
lifespan of approximately 50-150 years. When the tree is healthy and properly cared for, you can
expect around 2 feet of growth each season. A young tree is known for its rapid growth. As the
tree ages, its growth rate decreases and the tree becomes a slow to moderate grower.
Hardiness Zone(s)
Washington hawthorn can grow in the USDA Zones 4 through 8. It can be found as far north as
Zone 4. Washington hawthorn is an east coast native and it is enjoyed all across the United
States. Washington hawthorn’s native range is Virginia to Alabama.
Culture
Washington hawthorn requires full amounts of sun to ideally grow, meaning it should at least get
six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day. It grows in acidic, alkaline, loamy, moist, sandy,
well-drained, wet and clay soils. Washington hawthorn requires pruning to develop a strong
structure, especially in the situation of vehicular or pedestrian clearance beneath the canopy. The
plant has a very high drought tolerance.
Diseases & Insects
Washington hawthorn has fair resistance to fire blight and verticillium. The first noticeable
symptom of fire blight is the browning of branch tips. The tips appear to be burned or scorched
and the dead, brown leaves droop but hang on the tree. Cankers form and the bacteria are washed
farther down the branch by rain. Prune out blighted branched tips by cutting a foot or two beyond
the diseased wood. It is also susceptible to aphids, beetle borers, scales and spider mites, fire
blight, oak root rot, powdery mildew, root rot, rust and sooty mold. However, it is free from leaf
spotting fungus that plagues the English hawthorn.
Landscape Value
Washington hawthorn is a colorful tree that will brighten any type of landscape. It performs an
important function in nature. For example, songbirds rely on tree’s late season berries as a winter
food source. Washington hawthorn is planted for both its visual interest and profusion of spring
flowers. There are other landscape uses such as screening, hedging, or pleaching. Many people
have varieties of uses for the plant including borders, hedges, barriers, specimen plant, street
tree, naturalizing, and attracting wildlife.
References
Arbor Day Foundation. 2015. Washington Hawthorn Crataegus Phaenopyrum. Online.
<https://www.arborday.org/Trees/treeGuide/treedetail.cfm?itemID=846> Accessed 10 April
2015.
Ballarmine University. 2004. Washington Hawthorn. Online.
<http://www.bellarmine.edu/faculty/drobinson/WashingtonHawthorn.asp> Accessed 10
April 2015.
Plant Encyclopedia. 2011. Crataegus phaenopyrum. Online.
<http://www.theplantencyclopedia.org/wiki/Crataegus_phaenopyrum> Accessed 10 April
2015.
SelecTree. 2015. Crataegus phaenopyrum Tree Record. Urban Forest Ecosystem Institute.
Online. <https://selectree.calpoly.edu/tree-detail/crataegus-phaenopyrum> Accessed 10 April
2015.
This document was authored by Lana Beard, Department of Agricultural Sciences,
Louisiana Tech University, April 2015.