Downy Hawthorn
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Rosales Family: Rosaceae Subfamily: Maloideae Genus: Crataegus Species: C. mollis
Binomial name
Crataegus mollis (Torr. & A. Gray) Scheele

Downy Hawthorn (Crataegus mollis), also known as Red Hawthorn, occurs in eastern North America from southeastern North Dakota east to Nova Scotia and southwest to eastern Texas. This tree inhabits wooded bottomlands, the prairie border, and the midwest savanna understorey.

This tree grows to 10-13 m high with a dense crown of thorny branches and an ash-grey trunk. The leaves are 5-10 cm in length and often drop in late summer due to defoliation by leaf diseases. The tree seems to suffer little from the early loss of its leaves. Among the earliest in the genus to bloom, Downy Hawthorn also has earliest ripening fruit, which decorate the defoliated tree in late summer and early fall.

The white flowers are borne in clusters at the end of the branches in spring. The bright red edible fruit ripens in late summer and early fall and it falls soon after.

This species is a target of Gypsy moths. Leaf rusts and fire blight are among the many foliage diseases to affect this species. The sharp thorns are a hazard.

This species is uncommon in cultivation.

References

• Sternberg, G. (2004). Native Trees for North American Landscapes pp. 264. Timber Press, Inc.