The Washington Hawthorn Tree
 (Read 500+ times)
By Glory Lennon
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Washington Hawthorn.
The Washington Hawthorn is a small tree usually with multiple trunks and rather thorny branches. Crataegus Phaenopyrum is the botanical name for this native of the southeastern United States. It typically grows 25- 30 feet tall and has a open canopy spreading to 20 feet wide. It puts on a specular late spring time show first with its foliage which appears reddish at the beginning and then with pretty white flowers growing in clusters.
This gracefully branching tree attracts bees when in flower and attracts birds, songbirds in particular, after it bares its small, shiny, bright red fruit. These fruits resemble crab-apples and show up in summer and into the autumn. If the birds don’t eat all the fruit, whatever remains looks quite pretty set against winter snow and it looks even better during ice storms. The fruit is supposedly acceptable for human consumption and is sweet tasting whether eaten cooked or raw but the seeds are poisonous when swallowed so it’s best left to the birds.
The foliage of the Washington Hawthorn is glossy and dark green in summer. Leaves are 2-3 inches long and have lovely veining. They have 3-5 sharp, pointed lobes and slightly resemble some maple leaves. They turn a brilliant red, orange and purple for the autumn show. For year round interest Washington Hawthorn can’t be beat.
Being it tends to have multiple trunks, the Washington Hawthorn requires careful pruning when the tree is young to encourage a more open canopy. Suckers need to be regularly cut away to maintain a single trunk appearance. However, this attribute also makes it a candidate for a dense growing, impenetrable hedge, due to its innumerable 1-2 inch long and very sharp thorns. When planted 3-5 feet apart and pruned to encourage growth close to the ground you’ll have created a wonderful, natural place for birds to nest in and feed upon.
If left to its own devises the Washington Hawthorn may grow competing leaders which encourages fireblight, something Hawthorns are particularly susceptible to. Luckily, Washington Hawthorn is one of the more resistant to fireblight.
Washington Hawthorn grows in climate zones 4-8. It requires moderate water and likes full sun. It can tolerate most soil types though it has to be well-draining. If given ample water, too much fertilizer and grown in rich soil it tends to have succulent growth. This new growth can be susceptible to diseases which can kill whole branches if not the entire tree.
As weird and unusual as it sounds, the Washington Hawthorn grows best under stressful conditions with less water, no fertilizers and poor soil. If that sounds like your yard you may have found the answer to your landscaping problem of finding something attractive, functional, good for the environment, namely for songbirds and bees, and virtually carefree. We’ve got a winner!
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Author Bio Box: Glory Lennon
 Visit http://www.helium.com/user/32782 for more garden info, short stories and novel excerpts.
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