{"id":2097,"date":"2024-09-20T19:23:46","date_gmt":"2024-09-20T19:23:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/starhillforest.com\/wp1\/?p=2097"},"modified":"2024-09-21T00:59:10","modified_gmt":"2024-09-21T00:59:10","slug":"hawthorns-crataegus-sp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starhillforest.com\/wp1\/2024\/09\/20\/hawthorns-crataegus-sp\/","title":{"rendered":"Hawthorns (Crataegus sp.)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The beautiful \u2018Wayside Haw\u2019 in bloom. This local Crataegus mollis<\/em> was planted as an early highway beautification project and is the species champion.
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FEATURED TREE:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hawthorns (Crataegus sp.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I like to think of myself as skilled at tree identification, but I\u2019m not sure I will ever become a true hawthorn expert beyond recognizing the most common native Crataegus <\/em>species. Keying out a hawthorn requires a hand lens, a solid understanding of botanical terminology, and multiple trips to observe the specimen in different seasons to examine both flowers and fruit. Fortunately for the Arboretum, our small hawthorn collection has largely been curated with the help of one of the world\u2019s leading hawthorn experts, Ron Lance. He literally wrote the book\u2014Lance\u2019s 2014 publication, Haws: A Guide to Hawthorns of the Southeastern United States,<\/em> is the most comprehensive and taxonomically up-to-date guide available on this group of trees. Our collection currently includes 50 accessions, representing 30 of the 200+ North American hawthorn species. Hawthorns are found in temperate zones around the world, with potentially as many as 1,000 species! The total number of species varies depending on which taxonomist you follow. Only a handful of these species occur in Illinois, and just two occur spontaneously at Starhill Forest \u2013the downy red haw (Crataegus mollis<\/em>), one of the most widespread North American haws, and Washington haw (Crataegus phaenopyrum<\/em>). The latter has a very scattered documented distribution and has been in cultivation for decades. It\u2019s possible that our trees may have dispersed from cultivated trees decades ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A heavily fruiting Crataegus phaenopyrum<\/em> at Chicago Botanic Garden<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Hawthorns around the world: Crataegus orientalis<\/em> at the Arboretum Ellerhoop, Germany <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Hawthorns as a group deserve far more attention in horticulture and conservation. The bright white blossoms are abuzz with pollinators as soon as they open in early spring and as the tree matures, they develop picturesque form. The thorns and somewhat slow growth rate seem to be a bit of a deterrent in commercial horticulture, though you will a few selections like Crataegus viridis<\/em> \u2018Winter King\u2019 available at traditional nurseries. Selections have been made that offer thornless varieties, resistance to the fungal diseases that often plague hawthorn foliage, compact or upright form, or particularly heavy flowers and fruit set. The tree\u2019s small to medium size, beautiful flowers and fruit, and adaptability to a wide range of site conditions make for an excellent garden specimen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The dense branches provide prime nesting habitat.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The plentiful flowers of a prominent spontaneous Red Haw at the Arboretum are a favorite of honey bees and other pollinators in the month of May.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Crataegus lancei <\/em>(#2009-054) with persistent fruit, a late winter food source for wildlife.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Locally, you might encounter a gnarly old hawthorn standing at the edge of the woods or in a remnant fencerow, where it has likely weathered decades of change. Unfortunately, these hardy survivors are becoming fewer as fencerows are cleared to make way for more cropland, and invasive species increasingly encroach on forested areas. These old hawthorns, when found, deserve to be preserved not only for their historical significance but also for the biodiversity they support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hawthorns play an important role in local ecosystems, providing food and shelter for a wide range of wildlife. A great variety of pollinators feed on their flowers, while the leaves, fruit, and bark offer sustenance to many species of  insects, birds and small mammals. The dense branching structure offers excellent nesting habitat for many songbirds. Preserving these trees is essential for maintaining the diversity and habitat value they bring to our changing landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The majority of the Arboretum\u2019s Crataegus<\/em> collection is planted on a sunny, north-facing slope, where the flowers can be admired from a distance, and the various species compared side by side. Although many of these species originate in the milder climates of the southeastern United States and a range of habitats, most accessions are thriving in this common garden planting. Spring is certainly the optimal time to visit for the stunning floral display, but this time of year\u2014fall\u2014has its own unique appeal. It offers a great opportunity to observe which species show the most resistance to fungal diseases, retaining their foliage well into the season. It also offers a chance to appreciate the showy fruit and the unique branching habits of each specimen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Crataegus crus-galli<\/em> (#2009-045) is a stand-out for its foliage this time of year. This particular specimen sourced from North Carolina displays dense, glossy foliage that persists well into autumn, making it a clear winner in terms of disease resistance. Crataegus dispar<\/em> (#2012-081) was another highlight on a recent walk, admired for its heavy fruiting, with brilliant red fruits that add striking color, along with its attractive, diminutive, rounded form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Crataegus crus-galli<\/em> (#2009-045)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Crataegus crus-galli<\/em> in September, dense glossy foliage remains<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Crataegus dispar<\/em> (#2012-081) with showy fruit in fall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Another noteworthy species is Crataegus spathulata<\/em> (#2012-086), particularly for its ornamental value. Its small, dense, semi-evergreen foliage is certainly appealing, and its exceptionally dense flower clusters provide an impressive spring display. However, what stood out the most was its exfoliating bark, which adds year-round interest, especially in winter when the structure and texture of the tree become more prominent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Crataegus spathulata<\/em> (#2012-086) in flower<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Outstanding exfoliating bark<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Crataegus spathulata<\/em> in fall color, late November<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For more information on hawthorns, be sure to check out Guy Sternberg\u2019s discussion of Crataegus mollis<\/em> and other species in his latest book Native Trees of North America from the Rockies to the Atlantic<\/em>. You can also plan a visit to experience our collection in person!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

FEATURED TREE: Hawthorns (Crataegus sp.) I like to think of myself as skilled at tree identification, but I\u2019m not sure I will ever become a true hawthorn expert beyond recognizing the most common native Crataegus species. Keying out a hawthorn<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2102,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[12],"tags":[31,30],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starhillforest.com\/wp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2097"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starhillforest.com\/wp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starhillforest.com\/wp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starhillforest.com\/wp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starhillforest.com\/wp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2097"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/starhillforest.com\/wp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2097\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2121,"href":"https:\/\/starhillforest.com\/wp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2097\/revisions\/2121"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starhillforest.com\/wp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2102"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starhillforest.com\/wp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2097"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starhillforest.com\/wp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2097"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starhillforest.com\/wp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2097"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}