Hawthorn Red Berries In Winter – Information possibly out of date The information presented on this page was originally published on December 19, 2007. It may not be old, but please search our site for more information. If you intend to quote or reference this information in a publication, please consult the expert or author before proceeding.
Sometimes we take native plants for granted and forget the distinctive features they bring to the landscape. One of the examples is parsley leaf hawthorn.
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Hawthorn Red Berries In Winter
My office is located at Hands Community College, and the campus here is a virtual arboretum. Every tree and shrub looks as if it is part of a design, and the winter color of the berry-producing plants was definitely in the design.
Why Hawthorn Is The Best Tree To Plant In Small Gardens
For over 12 years I have admired the parsley leaf hawthorns on campus. Botanically, at least according to most USDA references and websites, they are Crataegus marshallii. Probably changed to Crataegus apifolia just to keep us on our toes.
The name tells you that the leaves look like parsley – not the curly kind, but the regular version. In spring, this member of the rose family bears a blanket of snow-white blooms with long, delicate stamens topped by pink anthers.
Let me simply say that they are very beautiful, and this is right in the spring. I challenge you to find a small tree with more red berries than parsley leaf hawthorn in fall and winter. They are borne by thousands and make the tree visible from afar as the sun reflects their brilliant color.
Birds will eat the fruit, but I’ve also noticed that each tree has upper branches that are perfect for nesting birds. It’s kind of like one-stop shopping for birds – a home and a grocery store.
Unheard Of Benefits Of The Hawthorn Berry Tree
Parsley-leaved hawthorn is native from Texas to Florida and northern Illinois, Kentucky, and Virginia, with most sources indicating it is hardy from zones 4 or 5 through 9.
The trees are well structured, usually with two or three trunks that branch into several scaffolds. Older trees have interesting exfoliating bark. They can get up to 25 feet tall and 25 feet wide, but most I see are closer to 15 feet tall and not that wide.
It is found in a variety of soils, from acidic to slightly alkaline, and from well-drained soils to soils that are slightly on the swampy side. If you can find one at a nursery that specializes in natives, choose a location with full sun or morning sun and afternoon shade and fertile, well-drained soil. This will give you an example that is worth a photo.
Also know that their water requirement after determination is considered to be in the medium to low range. This is good considering the little rainfall we have had each year.
Winter Food Hawthorn Red Fruit, Fruit, Plant, Green Food Png Transparent Clipart Image And Psd File For Free Download
While they can certainly stand alone, a place with a backdrop of evergreens makes for a better display. It’s probably one of those situations where opposites attract, because the opposite of red is green.
Over the years I’ve told you about great plants from around the world. This time, however, it’s the one we always drive by and take for granted. It’s time to bring some of these natives back into our landscapes, and parsley-leaved hawthorn is definitely one to consider.