Washington Hawthorn

Washington Hawthorn Crataegus phaenopyrum Full sun; medium to moderately dry moisture level; tolerant of a wide range of soils including moderately coarse sandy or gravelly loams, medium loam to fine silt loams and heavy clay; slightly acid to slightly alkaline pH. 25-30 feet height by 20-25 feet spread; white flowers with red anthers in flat-topped clusters with individual blossoms ½ inch wide in May and June; bright, glossy red berries , ¼ – ½ inch wide, in fall. Growth Rate: Slow Maintenance: Occasional disease problems (fire blight, fungal leaf spots, mildew, cankers and apple scab) and some insect problems (borers, scale, mites) but markedly less susceptible to rust than many other hawthorns. Propagation: Moderately difficult from seed Native Region: Northern half of Middle Tennessee and southwest corner of Coastal Plain Province One of the nicer hawthorns with a shapely oval silhouette, attractive flowers, outstanding displays of large red fruits, and orange-scarlet-purple leaf color in fall. Widely planted in the eastern U.S. Good as a specimen plant, in small groups or as a screen. Well armed with long, slender thorns. One of the most disease resistant hawthorns. Cultivars available. Attracts birds, butterflies and bees. Provides good nesting habitat for birds. Larval host for a number of hairstreak butterflies. tree;sun;medium;clay tree;sun;medium;loam tree;sun;medium;sand tree;sun;dry;clay tree;sun;dry;loam tree;sun;dry;clay

Photo Courtesy of John Hilty http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/ Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia http://www.wikipedia.org Photo Courtesy of John Hilty http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/ Photo Courtesy of Richard Webb, Self-employed horticulturist, Bugwood.org