Crataegus mollisIndiana Native
Downy Hawthorn

Family:

Rosaceae (Rose Family) 211

Genus:

Crataegus (Hawthorn) 11

Plant Type:

Tree 569

Growth Forms:

Spreading / Branched 91

Hardiness:

USDA Zone 3 230

Deciduous / Evergreen:

Deciduous 836

Flower Notes:

White (Beautiful 1" white flowers in 3-4" corymbs in spring; flowers have yellow anthers and are malodorous)

Foliage Notes:

Green (Summer foliage); Bronze (Fall foliage is sometimes good, ranging from orange to yellow to bronzy-red)

Stem Notes:

Gray (moderate, thorns, curved, stout)

Fruit Notes:

Red (Red fruits (0.5-1") in late August fall quickly (and may pose a maintenance problem))

Ultimate Height:

20-30 feet

Ultimate Spread:

20-30 feet

Bloom Times:

May 188

Light Requirements:

Soil Water Requirements:

Medium 192

Soil Notes:

Very site adaptable, although it prefers well-drained, slightly acidic soils

Range:

Eastern and Central Northern America

Maintenance:

Medium 79

Diagnostic Characteristics:

Leaves (2-4") are alternate, broad-ovate with small lobes and serrate margins, and densely pubescent on the underside early in the growing season (only veins remain pubescent later in season). Buds (0.25") are imbricate, red to dark red, ovate and glossy. Stems are slightly stout, zig-zagging, medium yellowish, brown when young, developing into a light grayish color, and armed with 1-2" brown thorns. The thorns are more numerous on young trees and vigorous growth and sparse on mature trees.

Ecological Functions:

Special Characteristics:

Additional Information

Quite susceptible to cedar-hawthorn rust, with leaves heavily spotted with orange in some years. Rust limits usage in many areas. Large fruit pose a maintenance issue when they drop.