Evening star., 1953-01-18
Hawthorn Is Useful, CoIorfuI Small Tree
Species Adaptable
To This Area and
Stands Hard Pruning
By W. H. Younemon
Corden Editor

Garden EDITOR
OF the many, many species OF
haWthornS native to North Amer
lea, over 1900 have been listed.
Gardeners know very few. unless
it be they remember the Red
Haw of the Middle West. A few
will have visited the Arnold Ar
boretum, where nearly 600 col
lected species grow. or perhaps a
visit to a nursery will have
brought their attention to a half
dozen or so varieties and species
that may be displayed. Many.
however, will have noted the
colorful berried display put on
by the hawthorns last fall, even
though they were unable to learn
the name of the small, thorny
trees bearing them.
The hawthorn is a tree which
creates wide interest because OF
its horizontal branching and low
stature, in keeping with the
rambler" type of architecture.
The hawthorn will tolerate light
shade, grow in full sun, and
seems to be at home in most
types of soil. The best growth
is obtained in full sun in not
too acid, open or sandy soil. The
shade from a hawthorn is not
dense enough to interfere with
lawns or shrubbery. In some
gardens the hawthorn is used as
a tall background shrub or small
tree where height is needed. ~
This tree is adaptable and
withstands hard pruning. even to
keeping it to hedge size. It's
thorns make an almost impene-
trable barrier. The autumn foli-
age is also colorful
Handsome in Spring and Fall.
The English hawthorn (Cra-
taegus oxyacantha) is the May
tree of English literature. 1t is
a dwarf, introduced species, sell
dom reaching 20 feet in height
The horizontal branches are wide
spreading, so that the clusters
of white blooms in May are ef-
fectively displayed. These blooms
are followed in the fall with
scarlet-colored fruits.
The English Hawthorn has
several interesting hybrid vari-
eties, the best known being the
Paul Double Scarlet Hawthorn
The double scarlet flowers are
especially snowy in contrast
with the single white of the spe-
cies. There are double dowered
forms in white and pink name
varieties, which ale also attrac
tive though not as freely planted.
The best known Of the Ameri-
can species, the Washington
Thorn &C. phaenopyrum) IS
taller tree. growing from 20 to
80 feet in height, with white
flowers and bright RED fruits.
It is native to this area ano has
no doubt been noticed bI many
driving through Virginia, West
Virginia and Pennsylvania. IN
the fall, the bright red fruits
which remain on the tree until
winter, are easily seen This
species is considered one of the
best for hedging.
Red Haw Is Edible.
The Red Haw, &C mollis), a
native of the Middle West is
even taller growing thar the
two preceding species In favor
able situations. it exceeds 80 feet
in height. The broad spreading
branches are covered in spring
with clusters of white flowers,
nearly an inch across, and in the
early fall with scarlet fruits. ''he
edible fruits whicn are popular
with the youngsters of the
Prairie States, do not hang on as
do the fruits of the other spe-
cies. hence this species should
not be mentioned as one that
provides color IN The wlnt.,r
The Cockspur Thorn &C. crus-
gallD, also a native of this region
and often confused with the
Washington thorn. although it is
taller, sometimes reaching 40
feet The flowers of the two are
similar in color and size and
the fruits are about the same.
The Cockspur thorn has dry
f1eshed fruits that are a darker
red in color. The major distinc-
ton. however, is that the foliage
of the Cockspur Thorn is
glossy green and in this respect
the tree is more attractive.
Easily Protected.
The haWthornS are not free
from disease or insect pests.
During the height of the Jap
anese beetle invasion they were
almost always defoliated unless
protected by spray. However,
their small stature makes them
relatively easy to protect with
the average home garden equip
ment. An all-purpose mixture.
such as used on roses, will be
adequate A dormant spray in
the winter with the lime sulphur
mixture is desirable to remove
over-wintering spores of the leaf
diseases, scale and the eggs of
red spider. Often the dormant
season application of lime-sul-
phur keeps the hawthorn rea-
sonably free of disease and in