Crataegus , or Hawthorn, is a genus containing many species and varieties that grows in low swamps and river bottoms as well as high mountain ridges throughout North Carolina. Crataegus crusgallii , or Cockspur Hawthorn, is a deciduous tree or shrub noted for being very dense and providing robust shade. It is native to North Carolina as well as other places in North America. The tree grows to a medium-large size of around 20 to 30 feet in height with a 9 inch trunk and produces both flowers and small red berry fruits. Both of these can provide a nice color accent to a garden. It grows well in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun, but will tolerate a wide range of soils with good drainage, light shade, and some drought. The tree produces white flowers in May which form red berries which are not well liked by birds. In the fall the leaves turn a brilliant red for a great color accent. These flowers also produce an unsavory aroma.This tree is also noted for producing large 4 inch thorns. Some cultivars such as 'Cruzam' (also known to a lesser extent as var. inermis, meaning "without thorns") do not produce these thorns. The plant is very accepting of trimming and can be cut back to old wood and will resprout freely. It is often used as a hedge. Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems: Susceptible to cedar-hawthorn and cedar-quince rusts and fireblight, fungal leaf spots, powdery mildew, cankers, apple scab, leaf blight and twig blight. Potential insect pests include aphids, borers, caterpillars, lacebugs, leafminers and scale. Red spider mites may also occur. Thorns can pose a hazard for children.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
24-60 feet; more than 60 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 35 ft. 0 in. | Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 35 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Horizontal; Pyramidal; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Oblong; Obovate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Lobed; Serrate
Leaf size
1-3 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Dark green leaves, spirally arranged on long shoots with lobed or serrated margins. Wedge-shaped, obovate to oblong-ovate leaf turns orange to scarlet to purple in the Fall.
Fall color
Orange; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Flower color
White
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Corymb
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Two to three inch corymbs of 1/2 inch flowers bloom in April-May. Initially, the fragrance is pleasant, but soon turns to a fishy odor that attracts midges for pollination.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Pome
Fruit value
Edible; Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Small deep-red pome with 1 to 5 pyrenes that resemble the “stones” in related plums, peaches, etc. Sometimes called the ‘haw’.
Bark color
Light Gray
Bark detail
Smooth, thin, and gray bark, fissuring with age. On old stems, the bark breaks up into thin, narrow scales.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Eastern North America, Canada to Georgia, west to Mississippi
Distribution
Eastern North America
Wildlife value
Important nectar flower for insects; food plant of many moths including the eggar moth; haws provide winter fruit and cover for songbirds. This plant also provides nectar for pollinators. It is a larval host plant for Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax), and Viceroy (Limenitis archippus). Red-spotted Purple and Viceroy rarely use this host plant in North Carolina. Good nesting habitat with thorns providing protection from predators.
Fruit can be eaten raw or cooked and used in jellies, but most people leave it for the birds.
Uses (ethnobotany)
The leaves, berries, and flowers are used in medicines and herbals for cardiovascular health. The wood is strong, tough, and heavy, but has little commercial value.