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Crataegus aestivalis

Crataegus aestivalis (Walter) Torr. & A. Gray

Mayhaw, May Hawthorn

Rosaceae (Rose Family)

Synonym(s): Crataegus luculenta, Crataegus maloides

USDA Symbol: CRAE

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

May hawthorn is a small tree to 40 ft. or, less commonly, a shrub with crooked, usually spiny, branches. Clusters of white flowers are followed by edible, red fruit. Unusual among Crataegus spp. in having fruits ripen early, from April to July.

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Fruit Type: Pome
Size Notes: Up to about 40 feet tall.
Leaf: Dark Green.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: Feb , Mar , Apr , May , Jun

Distribution

USA: AL , FL , GA , MS , NC , SC , VA
Native Distribution: Coastal Plain from VA to FL & MS
Native Habitat: Shallow ponds; wet woods; seasonal swamps

Growing Conditions

Water Use: High
Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Wet
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Soil Description: Wet soils.
Conditions Comments: Subject to rust.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Propagation

Description: Stratified seed will germinate.
Seed Treatment: 6-8 weeks of moist chilling improves germination.
Commercially Avail: yes

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	OBL

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

Bibliography

Bibref 1620 - Gardening with Native Plants of the South (Reprint Edition) (2009) Wasowski, S. with A. Wasowski

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 57 - Atlas of Florida Plants (2020) Institute for Systematic Botany
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Crataegus aestivalis in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Crataegus aestivalis in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Crataegus aestivalis

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-05-09
Research By: TWC Staff

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