There are approximately 100 different kinds of hawthorn which occupy almost every kind of soil in every part of the state. A member of the rose family, it is closely related to the apple. It is a pasture tree. Cattle shun it because of its thorny branches.
Songbirds love it though for some same branches.
The flat, thorny branches offer protected nesting sites and the berries are an important fall and winter food. The short, stunted appearance gives the impression that the tree never had a chance to grow to full maturity. The fruit occurs in clusters on long stems attached to the twig and ripens in late fall well before the first frost. The fruit resembles very small crab apples and is a source of food for squirrels, raccoon, oppossum, quail, wild turkey, deer, ruffed grouse, robin and purple finch. The leaves, shed in winter, are borne alternate and are simple.