Cerro Hawthorn

Scientific Name: Crataegus erythropoda Ashe

Classification: Plantae/ Tracheobionta / Spermatophyta / Magnoliophyta / Magnoliopsida / Rosidae / Rosales / Rosaceae / Crataegus L./ Crataegus erythropoda Ashe

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General Information
Usda SymbolCRER
GroupDicot
Life CyclePerennial
Growth HabitsShrubTree,
Native LocationsCRER

Plant Guide

Uses

Erosion Control: Because cerro hawthorn tolerates a wide variety of sites, it can be planted to stabilize banks, for shelterbelts, and from wind and water erosion. Timber: Although the wood is hard and strong, it has no commercial value except for tool handles and other small items. Wildlife: It provides excellent cover and nesting sites for many smaller birds. Birds, rodents, and other smaller mammals eat the small fruits. Beautification: Excellent for environmental plantings including small specimen tree and shrub border.

Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status, such as, state noxious status and wetland indicator values.

Description

General: Rose Family (Rosaceae). It is a native shrub or small tree that grows to sixteen feet high, with dense spreading, glabrous branchlets and sharply thorny. Leaves are broadest near the base or middle, dark green, smooth at maturity, and sometimes shallowly lobed. Flowers are white and produced in clusters of five to ten flowers. Fruits are elongated, red to blackish in color. Colorado Tree Coalition Distribution: Cerro hawthorn grows from Washington to Wyoming, and south to Arizona and New Mexico.

Adaptation

Although it will succeed in partial shade and different soil types, it grows best in full sunlight and well-drained loamy soils. Cerro hawthorn will tolerate wet soils before becoming drought tolerant once established. It is wind tolerant, making it a good tree species in shelterbelt planting. It is also tolerant of atmospheric pollution and performs well in urban settings.

Establishment

Propagation from Seed or Grafting: Cerro hawthorn can be propagated by either seeds or grafting, Successful propagation using seeds requires acid scarification followed by warm stratification and prechilling, Seeds, whose numbers per lb, varies with species, are planted early in the fall, in drill rows eight to twelve inches apart and covered with 1/4 inch of soil, Seedlings must not be kept in the nursery longer than a year, Containerized trees should be planted when they are no more than eight feet tall, in the fall or spring, Balled and burlapped trees should be planted in early spring, Grafting on seedling stock of Crataegus oxyacantha or Crataegus monogyna is best carried out in the winter to early spring, , Use soil moisture sensors to measure the soil moisture of Cerro Hawthorn.

Management

Pruning should be done in the winter or early spring in order to maintain a clear shoot leader on young trees and/or remove the weakest branches to allow more light to pass through. Suckers or stems arising from the roots should be removed when they become noticeable.

Pest and Potential Problems

Although insects and diseases seldom affect cerro hawthorn, it is susceptible to fireblight, cedar-hawthorn rust, cedar-quince rust, leaf blight, fruit rot, and leaf spot. Cultivars, Improved and Selected Materials (and area of origin) Consult you local nurseries to choose the right cultivar for your specific landscape. Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil Conservation Service) office for more information. Look in the phone book under ”United States Government.” The Natural Resources Conservation Service will be listed under the subheading “Department of Agriculture.”

References

Colorado Tree Coalition 2001. Cerro hawthorn. Fort Collins, Colorado. Accessed: 11jan02. <http://www.coloradotrees.org/> Dirr, M.A. 1990. Manual of woody landscape plants: their identification, ornamental characteristics, culture, propagation and uses. 3rd ed. Stipes, Champaign, Illinois. Duncan, W.H. & M.B. Duncan 1988. Trees of the Southeastern United States. University of Georgia Press, Athens, Georgia. Elias, T.S. 1989. Field guide to North American trees. Revised ed. Grolier Book Clubs Inc., Danbury, Connecticut. Flint, H.L. 1983. Landscape plants for eastern North America. John Wiley and Sons, Inc, New York, New York. Harrar, E.S. & J.G. Harrar. 1962. Guide to southern trees. 2nd ed. Dover Publications, Inc., New York, New York. Little, E.E. 1996. National Audubon Society field guide to North American trees: Eastern region. Alfred A. Knopf, New York, New York. USDA Forest Service 1974. Seeds of woody plants in the United States. Agricultural Handbook 450. USDA, Washington, DC. USDA Forest Service 1990. Silvics of North America. Agricultural Handbook 654. Forest Service, USDA, Washington, DC. Young, J. A. & C.G. Young. 1992. Seeds of woody plants in North America. Revised and enlarged ed. Dioscorides Press, Portland, Oregon.

Plant Traits

Growth Requirements

Temperature, Minimum (°F)-50
Adapted to Coarse Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Fine Textured SoilsNo
Adapted to Medium Textured SoilsYes
Anaerobic ToleranceLow
CaCO3 ToleranceMedium
Cold Stratification RequiredYes
Drought ToleranceLow
Fertility RequirementLow
Fire ToleranceMedium
Frost Free Days, Minimum89
Hedge ToleranceLow
Moisture UseLow
pH, Maximum8.0
pH, Minimum3.0
Planting Density per Acre, Maxim2400
Planting Density per Acre, Minim600
Precipitation, Maximum33
Precipitation, Minimum16
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)24
Salinity ToleranceMedium
Shade ToleranceIntolerant


Morphology/Physiology

BloatNone
ToxicityNone
Resprout AbilityYes
Shape and OrientationSemi-Erect
Active Growth PeriodSpring and Summer
C:N RatioHigh
Coppice PotentialYes
Fall ConspicuousYes
Fire ResistantNo
Flower ColorWhite
Flower ConspicuousYes
Foliage ColorDark Green
Foliage Porosity SummerModerate
Foliage Porosity WinterPorous
Foliage TextureMedium
Fruit/Seed ConspicuousYes
Nitrogen FixationNone
Low Growing GrassNo
LifespanShort
Leaf RetentionNo
Known AllelopathNo
Height, Mature (feet)16.0
Height at 20 Years, Maximum (fee24
Growth RateSlow
Growth FormSingle Stem
Fruit/Seed ColorBlack


Reproduction

Vegetative Spread RateSlow
Small GrainNo
Seedling VigorMedium
Seed Spread RateModerate
Seed per Pound25000
Fruit/Seed PersistenceNo
Propagated by TubersNo
Propagated by SprigsNo
Propagated by SodNo
Propagated by SeedYes
Propagated by CormNo
Propagated by CuttingsNo
Bloom PeriodLate Spring
Commercial AvailabilityNo Known Source
Fruit/Seed AbundanceMedium
Fruit/Seed Period BeginSummer
Fruit/Seed Period EndWinter
Propagated by Bare RootNo
Propagated by BulbNo
Propagated by ContainerNo


Suitability/Use

Veneer ProductNo
Pulpwood ProductNo
Protein PotentialLow
Post ProductNo
Palatable HumanYes
Palatable Graze AnimalLow
Palatable Browse AnimalMedium
Nursery Stock ProductNo
Naval Store ProductNo
Lumber ProductNo
Fuelwood ProductHigh
Fodder ProductNo
Christmas Tree ProductNo
Berry/Nut/Seed ProductYes
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