Washington Hawthorn: Four-Season Native with Glossy Leaves & Red Fruit

• 
• 
• 
• 

• Family:	Rosaceae (ro-ZAY-see-ee) (Info)
  Genus:	Crataegus (krah-TEE-gus) (Info)
  Species:	phaenopyrum (fay-no-PY-rum) (Info)
  Synonym:	Crataegus cordata
  Synonym:	Crataegus populifolia
  Synonym:	Crataegus youngii

Overview

The Washington Hawthorn (Crataegus phaenopyrum) is a superlative, small, native North American tree that delivers genuine four-season interest: showy spring flowers, glossy summer foliage, brilliant fall color, and persistent winter fruit—all on a tough, adaptable, disease-resistant package. Native to the Southeast U.S., it has proven itself across a vast range (Zones 3–8).

Seasonal Parade

Spring: Clusters of 5-petaled white flowers (3/4 inch) cover the tree in late spring, slightly later than many hawthorns, reducing frost risk. Summer: Leaves are **distinctively glossy, dark green, and deeply lobed** (almost maple-like), turning a clean, lustrous canopy. Fall: Foliage ignites in **brilliant orange, scarlet, and purple**—among the best fall color of any hawthorn. Winter: Glossy, bright red pomes (1/4–1/2 inch) persist in abundance well into winter, feeding birds (cedar waxwings, robins) and providing striking color against gray bark.

Form, Thorns & Disease Resistance

It grows 20–30 feet tall and 20–25 feet wide with a broadly oval to rounded crown. **Thorns are present but relatively small** (1–1.5 inches) and less numerous than on many hawthorns. Crucially, it shows **excellent resistance to cedar-hawthorn rust, leaf spot, and fire blight**—the bane of many Crataegus species.

Culture & Uses

Full sun; adaptable to a wide range of soils (clay, loam, sand, alkaline, acidic) and urban conditions (pollution, compaction). Drought-tolerant once established. Ideal as a specimen, street tree (thornless cultivars like 'Winter King' exist but are a different species), screen, or wildlife planting. A top-tier native ornamental tree that earns its keep every month of the year.