The best “armed” of all our hawthorns, with two-inch long thorns! They are very ornamental. A small tree developing a flattened crown with long layered branches. Clusters of white flowers bloom in May and are followed by deep red berries in fall.
Native Plant Database
Header Photo: Mervin Wallace
Cockspur Hawthorn
Crataegus crus-galli
Plant Type: Trees
Native Environment: Savanna / Woodland
Season of Interest: Mid (May - June), Late (July - frost), Winter (Nov - Mar)
Main Color: White
Fall Color: Red
USDA PLANTS Range Map
At the range map link above, zoom in for county-level data


Sun Exposure
Full Sun

Soil
Moisture
Dry, Moderate

Nature Attracting
Pollinators/Beneficial Insects

Wildlife Benefit
Cover, Food/Birds, Food/Small Animals, Nesting

Animal
Resistance
Size
Height:
20 to
30
feet
Spread:
20 to
35
feet
Size
Height: 20 to
30
feet
Spread: 20 to
35
feet
Size
Height: 20 to
30
feet
Spread: 20 to
35
feet
Typical Landscape Use
Excellent in mass plantings, screens, as a specimen or a barrier. Afflicted by many diseases and pests, all part of the web of life and will not kill the tree.
Establishment and Care Instructions
Full sun to part shade, prefers well drained soilsalthough adapts to almost any soil. Easy to grow, but susceptible to leaf spots and rusty in some years.
Special Features
Interesting Bark
Special Usage
Basic Description
Where Should I Start?
Check out the Grow Native! Committee’s Top Ten picks of native plants for a particular purpose.
What’s the Next Step?
Picked out your plants? View our Resource Guide of garden centers, seed sources, landscapers, education resources, and more!
Where Can I Find This Plant in Nature?
Learn about the Native Environment(s) inhabited by the plants in this database.