Dwarf hawthorn is found naturally in forests, roadsides, rock outcrops, and other disturbed lands with xeric to sub-xeric conditions. It grows as a spreading shrub or small tree with short, stout trunks, a rounded crown and crooked branches. It appears in tree form only in Northern Florida. It is heat-tolerant with good fall color. Like most Hawthorns, Dwarf Hawthorn, has straight fine thorns, solitary white flowers that appear in spring, and fall fruits. This shrub prefers well-drained soils on the drier side in sun to partial shade. Once established, it succeeds in excessively moist soils and also tolerates drought. It grows well in organic as well as clay and sandy soils and can tolerate windy conditions. However, it does not do well with exposure to maritime salt air. It can be easily pruned and could be used as a barrier, hedge or as a wildlife plant in naturalized areas. It is beneficial to birds, small mammals and pollinators. It may be difficult to find for sale. Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
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; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry | Occasionally Wet
Available space
3 feet-6 feet; 6-feet-12 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Rounded; Spreading
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen; Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Oblong; Ovate
Leaf margin
Crenate; Serrate
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Oval to oblong leaves with margins serrated to crenate, bases cuneate, tip obtuse to broadly acute. Often glossy green and sparsely to moderately hairy. Half to one inch long by half inch or less wide. Stems short or missing. Leaves small and unlobed.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow; Red/Burgundy
Flower color
White
Flower value
Fragrant
Flower form
Solitary
Flower shape
Cup
Flower detail
Solitary five petaled white flowers with cream or white colored anthers in April-May. Initial fragrance can be unpleasant, but attracts midges for pollination.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Gold/Yellow; Green; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Pome
Fruit value
Edible
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Green yellow to dull red. Fruits are available September-October.
Bark color
Light Gray
Bark detail
Thin, gray bark that, in older stems, breaks up into narrow scales.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Twigs are hairy, thorny and reddish-brown
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
South Eastern United States
Distribution
AL , AR , DC , DE , FL , GA , KY , LA , MD , MO , MS , NC , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , SC , TN , TX , VA , WV
Wildlife value
Provides nesting sites and protection for birds, small mammals and other 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. Flowers attract pollinators. It is a larval host plant. The fruits are eaten by birds and mammals.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Hummingbirds; Moths; Pollinators; Small Mammals; Songbirds