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| ## yellowleaf hawthorn {#yellowleaf-hawthorn .Title-Header}           |
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| *Crataegus flava* Ait.                                                |
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| Plant Symbol = CRFL2                                                  |
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##### *Contributed By: USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center*

### Alternate Names

Yellow hawthorn, southern haw, summer haw, and yellow-fruited thorn

## 

### Uses

*Erosion Control*: Because it tolerates a wide variety of sites, it can
be planted to stabilize banks, for shelterbelts, and for erosion
control.

*Timber*: Although the wood is hard and strong, it has no commercial
value except for tool handles and other small items. Fruits are useful
for jellies.

*Wildlife*: It provides excellent food and cover for wildlife.

*Beautification*: Excellent for environmental plantings including small
specimen tree, 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*: It is a shrub or small tree that grows to twenty feet high
and eight inches DBH and sharply thorny. Leaves are broadest above the
middle, shallowly lobed, serrate margin, and hairy. Flowers are white,
generally in clusters of three to five. Fruits are broadest above the
middle or rounded, brown to yellow in
color.![](media/image2.jpeg){width="2.8020833333333335in"
height="1.2493055555555554in"}

*Distribution*: Yellowleaf hawthorn grows widely in the southeastern
U.S., from Virginia to Florida. For current distribution, please consult
the Plant profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

### 

### Adaptation

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

### Establishment

*Propagation from Seed or Grafting:* Yellowleaf hawthorn can be
propagated by either seeds or grafting. Successful propagation using
seeds requires acid scarification followed by warm stratification and
prechilling. Seeds 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.

### 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 pests and diseases seldom affect it, it is susceptible to
fireblight, cedar-hawthorn rust, cedar-quince rust, leaf blight and
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

Dirr, M.A. 1990. *Manual of woody landscape plants: their
identification, ornamental characteristics, culture, propagation and
uses*. 3^rd^ 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*. 2^nd^ 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.

South Carolina Forestry Commission 2002. *What tree is this? A tree
identification booklet for South Carolina forests*. Columbia, South
Carolina. Accessed: 11jan02.
\<http://www.state.sc.us/forest/tidtsim.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

### Prepared By

*Alfredo \"Fred\" B. Lorenzo*

Formerly Southern University and A&M College

College of Agricultural, Family and Consumer Sciences, Baton Rouge,
Louisiana

### Species Coordinator

## *Lincoln M. Moore*

USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Edited: 10jan02 jsp; 24feb03 ahv; 05jun06 jsp

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

*The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in
all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national
origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual
orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases
apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication of program information (Braille,
large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA\'s [TARGET
Center](http://www.usda.gov/oo/target.htm) at 202-720-2600 (voice and
TDD).*

*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice or
TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.*

*Read about [Civil Rights at the Natural Resources Convervation
Service](http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/civilrights/).*