Native Plants

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Smith, R.W.

Crataegus spathulata

Crataegus spathulata Michx.

Littlehip Hawthorn, Pasture Hawthorn, Smallfruit Hawthorn

Rosaceae (Rose Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: CRSP

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

The slender branches are usually thorny.

From the Image Gallery

5 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub , Tree
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Shape: Obovate
Leaf Pubescence: Glabrous
Leaf Margin: Crenate , Serrate
Fruit Type: Pome
Size Notes: Up to about 20 feet tall.
Leaf: Dark green
Flower: Stamens 20
Fruit: Bright red

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May
Bloom Notes: Flowers in corymbs (flat topped clusters), without hairs, numerous, small (1 cm. wide). Anthers pale yellow.

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , FL , GA , IL , KY , LA , MO , MS , NC , OK , SC , TN , TX , VA
Native Habitat: Sandy or sandy clay woods, fencerows and pastures

Benefit

Use Wildlife: Several species of birds eat the fruit.
Attracts: Birds
Deer Resistant: No

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

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

National Wetland Indicator Status

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

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.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Pineywoods Native Plant Center - Nacogdoches, TX

Wildflower Center Seed Bank

LBJWC-1225 Collected 2008-11-09 in Montgomery County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

1 collection(s) available in the Wildflower Center Seed Bank

Bibliography

Bibref 298 - Field Guide to Texas Trees (1999) Simpson, B.J.
Bibref 293 - Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas (1979) Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 3 - Flora of North America (2014) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-01-11
Research By: TWC Staff

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