Common Name(s): Hawthorn, Quickthorn, Thornapple, May-tree, whitethorn, or hawberry Scientific Name: Crataegus sp. L.
Family: Rose family (Rosaceae)
Species Description
Growth form: Hawthorns can grow into trees or shrubs as seen below and grows at a medium growth rate, about 25-30 feet.
Leaves, twigs, and bark: Hawthorn leaves are sharply toothed as seen below. They grow alternate, meaning one leaf will span out to the right then the next leaf will span to the left and vice versa. Twigs are a dark/light brown with white speckles throughout. Bark is a light gray and fairly smooth, indicating young trees. As they age, they will darken in color and become more rigid.
Flowers: Hawthorn flowers bloom in spring and have a multitude of colors as shown below.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Crataegus#/media/File:Crataegus_sp._(41952051641).jpg (This is not of campus, update in spring)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rbdal49/34766197345 (This is not of campus. update in spring)
https://pixels.com/featured/hawthorn-flowers-jim-d-saulscience-photo-library.html (This is not of campus. update in spring)
Fruits: Hawthorn fruits form into red orbs that are called haws, derived from the name of the tree. These fruits are edible and loved by birds and squirrels. Hawthorns usually fruit in autumn.
Native range and habitat: Because Hawthorn trees are so difficult to key, we do not have the specific species in our Arboretum. Below is a map of hawthorns throughout the US. Native species as well as introduced species are included.
Distribution of Hawthorn trees across Virginia counties (VA Botanical Associates, 2019)
Plant Family: Hawthorns are part of the Rosaceae family. The common name being the rose family. They generally have five sepals, five petals, and many spirally arranged stamens. The bases of the sepals, petals, and stamens are fused together to form a characteristic cup-like structure called a hypanthium.
Ecologic Importance and Uses:
Edible and Medicinal Uses: Rosaceae is arguably one of the most economically important plant families. They provide food crops, including apples, almonds, cherries, pears, raspberries, and strawberries. They are widley used as ornamentals as well and in skin care, as rose hip oil is derived from this family.
Wildlife: The fruits are edible for many wildlife such as birds and squirrels.
Gardens and Landscaping: Hawthorn trees are very beautiful and can be used for a variety of landscapes. Their flowers bloom a very bright, and showy way and are stunning in the spring time. These trees are a great edition to horticulture. but watch out for the pointy thorns! Fun fact- The variety at Radford University were bred to not have these sharp thorns!
Campus Specimens - Hawthorn
State and national champions? The largest Dotted Hawthorn in the country is located in Grayson County Wilson Creek, VA. This national champion has a trunk circumference of 70 inches, height of 29 feet, and crown spread of 46 feet. Resulting in a total of 111 points. The Virginia state champion Hawthorn is located in Courtland, VA in Southampton county and has a circumference of 66 inches, height of 44 feet, and crown spread of 41 feet, for a total of 120 points.
At Radford University, Seven hawthorn trees can be found on campus between Preston hall and the Greenhouse.
Tree #267
Trunk circumference: 30 inches
Tree height: 24.5 feet
Crown spread: 37.8 feet x 37.1 feet Average = 37.5 feet
Total points: 63.9
Notes: This is a shrub version.
Tree #268
Trunk circumference: 40.5 inches
Tree height: 18 feet
Crown spread: 26 feet x 225 feet Average crown spread = 24.3 feet
Total points: 64.6
Notes: This is a small tree that branches out
Tree #269
Trunk circumference: 28.5 inches
Tree height: 15.5 feet
Crown spread: 11.3 feet x 17.2 feet Average crown spread = 14.3 feet
Total points: 47.6
Notes: This small, forked tree had numerous fruits in 2019.
Tree #270
Trunk circumference: 27.5 inches
Tree height: 32.5 feet
Crown spread: 39.5 feet x 26.1 feet Average crown spread = 32.8 feet
Total points: 68.2
Notes: This is a shrub
Tree #272
Trunk circumference: 45.0 inches
Tree height: 29.0 feet
Crown spread: 31.2 feet x 34.5 feet Average crown spread = 32.9 feet
Total points: 82.2
Notes: This is a tree with spiraling bark
References
Elpel, T. J. (2018). Botany in a Day: The Patterns Method of Plant Identification, Edition 6.1. Hops Press, Pony, MT.
Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation. (2019). Fringe Tree Fact Sheet, Virginia Tech Dendrology. dendro.cnre.vt.edu/DENDROLOGY/factsheets.cfm
Page created by: Kevin Pham, Radford University (2019).