Hawthorn Trees: Varieties, Diseases, & Landscaping Tips for Your Yard

If you’re looking for a small tree that’s aesthetically pleasing during any season, a Hawthorn might be for you. Known for their year-round aesthetics, sturdy nature, and diverse climate tolerance, Hawthorns are great additions to home yards.

What Are Hawthorn Trees

Hawthorns (Crataegus) are a genus of trees native to temperate regions in the U.S. They are relatively short trees, growing 25-30 feet tall, and have thorns on their branches that range from 1-3 inches, depending on the variety.

Hawthorns attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, making them a great addition to your sustainable landscape!

Common Hawthorn Diseases

Hawthorns are susceptible to diseases, most commonly rust and fire blight. Knowing how to identify Hawthorn tree diseases and treat them can help preserve your trees.

• Fire Blight – An infectious bacterial disease that can be difficult to control. Keep an eye out for wilted and browned blossoms during the spring. Fire blight in Hawthorns also affect shoots, making them appear dark brown or black. To control fire blight, remove infected shoots with sanitized tools to avoid spread. Plant hawthorn varieties that are less susceptible to fire blight. Contact your arborist for chemical management of fireblight.
• Rust Diseases – Rust is a fungal pathogen that requires two hosts to complete the life cycle. It creates orange spots on leaves. The spots contain black pimple-like fruiting bodies that produce spores. This disease also causes galls on the twigs as well as hair-like structures on the fruit. Contact your arborist for fungicide management of rust. 

Common Hawthorn Tree Varieties

While Hawthorn tree varieties are in the hundreds, two species are more common: the green Hawthorn and the Washington Hawthorn. 

• Green Hawthorn  – Native to the Southeastern U.S., green Hawthorn trees thrive in lowland areas like valleys and swamps with medium to wet soil. They are great for shady areas in your yard since they prefer partial shade. In spring, leaves turn from yellow to green, then turn an appealing scarlet color in the fall. Spring blooms feature white, showy flowers on branches with 1- to 1.5-inch thorns.
• Washington Hawthorn – Known for growing in colder climates in full sun, Washington Hawthorns feature green leaves in the summer, then orange, scarlet, and purple in the fall. In spring, Washington Hawthorns grow the same white flowers as green Hawthorns, as well as red berries that serve as a food source for animals in the fall and winter. Washington Hawthorns have larger thorns than green Hawthorns, which can grow between 1 and 3 inches. They can tolerate urban pollution and heavy clay soil, making them a great candidate for street trees.

Hawthorns in Mid-Atlantic Landscapes

Hawthorns are native to the Mid-Atlantic region and work well as a replacement for Callery Pear trees. If you’re seeking plants to complement a Hawthorn’s flowers, try Crabapples, Redbuds, or Serviceberry trees. If you want to incorporate other tree species into your understory, pair Hawthorns with Sweetbay Magnolias, Flowering Dogwoods, and River Birches.

CONTACT YOUR LOCAL DAVEY MID-ATLANTIC OFFICE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HAWTHORN TREES