Washington Hawthorn (Crataegus phaenopyrum)
Native to the US, the Washington Hawthorn grows to about 20 feet tall and wide. Its impressive thorns are 1 to 3 inches long! It grows upright when young, but develops a broad canopy and a rounded form with age. The tree has a rapid growth rate when young slowing with age. It casts light shade and has no particular soil preference.
Washington Hawthorn foliage emerges in late May. Individual leaves are roughly triangular in shape and up to 2 1/2 inches long and wide. They have 3 to 5 lobes, doubly toothed edges and very shiny surfaces with paler undersides. A lustrous light green when they emerge in the spring, the leaves turn a dark green in summer. Their fall show is orange to scarlet red. Washington Hawthorns and all others are deciduous, losing their leaves in early November.
Washington Hawthorns bloom a bit later than most other Hawthorns, in late spring, usually June. After the leaves have developed, individual white flowers about 1/2 inch wide appear in flat-topped clusters that are 2 to 3 inches across. They have a mildly musty fragrance that attracts bees. Later in the season the tree bears the classic orange red fruits. These attractive small fruits are produced in late fall and persist into the winter until severe cold turns them black or birds eat them.
Washington Hawthorn Choices
Fastigiata is columnar and has small flowers and fruit. Clarke has abundant fruit.
