The fleshy fruit is somewhat edible, but drops soon after ripening in October. The fruit falls early enough to attract bees and yellow jackets in large numbers. Hawthorns are pioneer invaders and do not persist in the woodlands. They are common in abandoned fields and fence rows. This tree is generally distributed over the state.
Leaves are glossy above but glabrous, or nearly so, beneath.
The shape of the leaf is broad, elliptic to obovate, with acute or short, acuminate leaf tips. Leaves have hairs along the veins beneath the leaf. May. The bright red fruit ripens in October or November. The tree is too small to contain valuable wood.