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Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Crataegus viridis (Green hawthorn)
Bloodworth, Stefan

Crataegus viridis

Crataegus viridis L.

Green Hawthorn, Southern Hawthorn

Rosaceae (Rose Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: CRVI2

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

Thicket-forming tree with straight, often fluted, trunk and rounded, dense crown of spreading branches, shiny foliage, showy flowers, and small red to yellow fruit.

Linnaeus, in 1753, gave this species its Latin name, meaning "green," from a specimen with shiny green foliage sent from Virginia.

 

From the Image Gallery

13 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub , Tree
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Fruit Type: Pome
Size Notes: Up to about 50 feet tall, often shorter.
Leaf: Yellow-Green.
Autumn Foliage: yes
Fruit: Bright red to orange.

Bloom Information

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

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , DE , FL , GA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MD , MO , MS , NC , OK , PA , SC , TN , TX , VA , WV
Native Distribution: Delaware south to N. Florida, west to E. Texas, and north to SW. Indiana; to about 500' (152 m).
Native Habitat: Open woodlands, Prairie, Plains, Meadows, Pastures, Savannas

Growing Conditions

Water Use: High
Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Wet
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Soil Description: Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay
Conditions Comments: Suitable for most sites and soils; will grow best in sunny location.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Showy, Understory tree, Blooms ornamental
Use Wildlife: Nectar-bees, Nectar-butterflies, Fruit-birds, Fruit-mammals, Cover, Nesting site.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Birds , Butterflies
Larval Host: King's hairstreak, Gray hairstreak, Soapberry hairstreak, Banded hairstreak, Red-Banded hairstreak.
Deer Resistant: High

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

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

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Soapberry Hairstreak
(Phaeostrymon alcestis)

Larval Host
Learn more at BAMONA
Banded Hairstreak
(Satyrium calanus)

Larval Host
Learn more at BAMONA
Gray Hairstreak
(Strymon melinus)

Larval Host
Learn more at BAMONA
Red-banded Hairstreak
(Calycopis cecrops)

Larval Host
Learn more at BAMONA

Find Seed or Plants

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:AGCPAKAWCBEMPGPHIMWNCNEWMVE
Status: FACW FACW FAC FACW 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.

From the National Organizations Directory

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

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Austin, TX

Wildflower Center Seed Bank

LBJWC-1141 Collected 2007-11-16 in Liberty 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 1620 - Gardening with Native Plants of the South (Reprint Edition) (2009) Wasowski, S. with A. Wasowski
Bibref 946 - Gardening with Prairie Plants: How to Create Beautiful Native Landscapes (2002) Wasowski, Sally
Bibref 841 - Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 57 - Atlas of Florida Plants (2020) Institute for Systematic Botany
Webref 3 - Flora of North America (2014) 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 viridis in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Crataegus viridis in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Crataegus viridis

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-05-09
Research By: NPC

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