Cockspur Hawthorn

Scientific Name: Crataegus crus-galli L.

Cockspur Hawthorn

General Information
Usda Symbol	CRCR2
Group	Dicot
Life Cycle	Perennial
Growth Habits	ShrubTree,
Native Locations	CRCR2

Plant Guide

Uses

Erosion Control: Because it tolerates a wide variety of sites, it can be planted to stabilize banks, for shelterbelts, and for erosion control. Wildlife: It provides excellent cover and nesting sites for many smaller birds. The small fruits are eaten by many birds especially cedar waxwings, fox sparrows, and ruffed grouse; rodents and other smaller birds. White tailed deer and mule deer browse the young twigs and leaves. Beautification: Excellent in group plantings, deciduous screens, groupings, tall barrier hedge, and seasonal accent tree.

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, , Use soil moisture sensors to measure the soil moisture of Cockspur Hawthorn.

Description

General: It is a small tree that grows twenty to thirty feet high, twenty to thirty-five feet wide; with wide-spreading, horizontal, thorny branches. Leaves are broadest above or near the middle, thick, leathery, shiny dark green above, usually not lobed, and smooth. Flowers ranging from white to red are produced in clusters. Fruits are broadest above the middle or rounded, dull red or green.

Native Trees of Texas

Department of Horticulture Texas A&M University Distribution: Cockspur hawthorn grows from southern Quebec, and Ontario to northern Louisiana, Alabama and northwestern Georgia, and west to Kansas.

Adaptation

Although Cockspur hawthorn generally requires no special soil requirements, it prefers a moist, well-drained, slightly acid soils, and full sunlight. It is adaptable to poor soils; various soil pHs, compacted soils, drought, heat and winter salt spray. Adapted to USDA Hardiness Zone 4.

Establishment

Propagation from Seed or Grafting: Cockspur hawthorn can be propagated by seeds or by stem cuttings grafted onto seedling rootstock.

Propagation

using seeds requires acid scarification for two to three hours followed by three months warm stratification and another three months prechilling. Seeds are planted in drill rows eight to twelve inches apart and covered with 1/4 inch of soil. Containerized trees should be planted when they are no more than eight feet tall, in the fall or spring. Grafts are budded on seedling understock in August and September.

Management

Seedlings develop taproot, thus should not be kept in seedbeds longer than one year. Balled and burlapped trees should be planted in early spring. If transplanted in autumn, amend soil, fertilize, water thoroughly, mulch adequately and avoid winter salt spray. 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

Cedar hawthorn rust affects the fruit, foliage and stems. Potential pests include leaf blotch minor. 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

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. Texas A&M University 2002. Native trees of Texas. Department of Horticulture, College Station, Texas. Accessed: 11jan02. <http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/ornamentals/natives/indexscientific.htm> 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

Morphology/Physiology

Reproduction

Suitability/Use

Cockspur Hawthorn

Cockspur Hawthorn

Cockspur Hawthorn

Cockspur Hawthorn

Cockspur Hawthorn

Cockspur Hawthorn

Cockspur Hawthorn

Cockspur Hawthorn

Cockspur Hawthorn