General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Tree
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Water Preferences: Mesic
Soil pH Preferences: Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5)
Neutral (6.6 – 7.3)
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 4a -34.4 °C (-30 °F) to -31.7 °C (-25 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 7b
Plant Height: 25-35 feet
Plant Spread: 25-35 feet
Leaves: Good fall color
Unusual foliage color
Deciduous
Other: Toothed, elliptic, glossy green leaves (to 3.5" long) which turn red to purplish red in fall.
Fruit: Showy
Edible to birds
Other: Small, crabapple-like fruits (1/3" diameter) mature in fall to a bright red and persist throughout the winter. Fruits are technically edible, but are best left for the birds.
Fruiting Time: Late summer or early fall
Fall
Late fall or early winter
Winter
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: White
Flower Time: Spring
Other: May
Suitable Locations: Patio/Ornamental/Small Tree
Uses: Provides winter interest
Flowering Tree
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Birds
Butterflies
Resistances: Drought tolerant
Pollinators: Bees
Various insects
Miscellaneous: Monoecious

Image
Common names
  • Green Hawthorn
  • Southern Hawthorn

Photo Gallery
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Date: 2020-11-24
Green Hawthorn (Crataegus viridis 'Winter King') fallen fruit.
Location: near Wayne, Pennsylvania
Date: 2007-12-17
bark and fruit close-up
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Date: 2020-11-24
Green Hawthorn (Crataegus viridis 'Winter King') in winter.
Location: Baltimore, MD
Date: 2014-05-14
Location: Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania
Date: 2010-05-05
mature tree in summer
Location: Newtown Square, Pennsylvania
Date: 2011-11-09
maturing tree in fruit
Location: Thorndale, Pennsylvania
Date: 2009-11-29
tree in red fruit
Location: National Botanical Garden (DC) | November 2022
Date: 2022-11-26
Location: Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania
Date: 2009-07-15
the trunk
Location: Thorndale, Pennsylvania
Date: 2016-01-02
two trees in full fruit
Location: Thorndale, Pennsylvania
Date: 2011-05-09
two trees in white bloom
Location: Newtown Square, Pennsylvania
Date: 2011-05-13
mature tree in bloom
Location: Newtown Square, Pennsylvania
Date: 2011-05-13
maturing tree in bloom
Location: Newtown Square, Pennsylvania
Date: 2010-11-02
close-up of fruit
Location: Newtown Square, Pennsylvania
Date: 2010-07-27
a curving line of maturing trees
Location: Newtown Square, Pennsylvania
Date: 2010-07-21
the summer leaves
Location: Thorndale, Pennsylvania
Date: 2011-05-09
flower clusters on side of tree
Location: Thorndale, Pennsylvania
Date: 2011-05-09
close-up of flower clusters
Location: Newtown Square, Pennsylvania
Date: 2011-05-13
curving line of trees in bloom
Location: Blue Bell, Pennsylvania
Date: 2012-01-09
maturing tree in red fruit
Location: Thorndale, Pennsylvania
Date: 2009-11-29
three trees with red fruit
Location: Blue Bell, Pennsylvania
Date: 2012-01-09
mature tree in fruit
Location: Blue Bell, Pennsylvania
Date: 2010-11-02
close-up of fruit
Location: Thorndale, Pennsylvania
Date: 2019-08-07
full-grown tree in parkway
Location: Thorndale, Pennsylvania
Date: 2019-08-07
large trunk
Comments:
  • Posted by ILPARW (southeast Pennsylvania - Zone 6b) on Jan 2, 2018 4:08 PM concerning plant:
    'Winter King' is the great, common cultivar of the Green Hawthorn. It was introduced to the nursery trade back in 1955 by Simpson Nursery in Vincennes, Indiana, but has not become such a common ornamental tree until recently since around 2000 AD. Its fruit are about 1/2 inch in diameter, larger than the 1/3 inch of the mother species, and they persist well into winter. It blooms white very well. It has become the most commonly planted hawthorn in many areas of the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest because of its great ornamental traits. It does not get Cedar Rust Disease badly, if at all, though during one really wet year I saw lots of the fruit infected with orange straps of the fungus coming out. The handsome leaves turn a good orange to red in autumn. It bears very few thorns. It is planted mostly by landscape architects at estates, golf courses, parks, parking lots, shopping centers, campuses, office parks, and various public areas.

« Add a new plant to the database

« The Plants Database Front Page

Today's site banner is by Zoia and is called "The Patio"

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.