PSC 2620: Woody Trees and ShrubCourse HomeStudy Materials

Crataegus Species Comparisons


This page is intended to help you become more familiar with the different Crataegus species. Here you can quickly compare the different species to better learn the distinguishing characteristics of each.
Leaf
Crataegus laevigata - the leaf is 2 inches long and has 3, rarely 5, toothed-lobes. The margin is finely serrated. Crataegus phaenopyrum - The leaves are 1-3 inches long and have 5 lobes. They have a more triangular shape than the leaf of laevigata, and the margin is more roughly serrated.
Crataegus x lavallei - Unlike other species of Hawthorn, the leaves are not lobed, but are dark green and lanceolate in shape. The leaf has a finely serrated margin.

Flower
Crataegus laevigata - The flowers are white, but most cultivars commercially available have a pink blossoms. They are 1/2 inch wide and form in corymbs. They appear in late spring. Crataegus phaenopyrum - The flowers are white and bloom in the beginning of summer. They are very short lived, only 7-10 days.
Crataegus x lavallei - The small white flowers form in corymbs that are 2-3 inches wide.

Fruit
Crataegus laevigata - The fruit consists of 1/2 inch red pome fruit. Crataegus phaenopyrum - The fruit is bright red and persists through the winter. The fruit forms in large clusters.
Crataegus x lavallei - The pome fruit is 3/4 inches in diameter and persist through winter. They are orange-red in color.

Bark
Crataegus laevigata - The bark is gray in color and and has a rough texture that looks like it is exfoliating. Crataegus phaenopyrum - The bark is gray-brown in color and roughly textured.
Crataegus x lavallei - The bark is gray-brown and forms fissures and peels.

Thorns
Crataegus laevigata - The throns are located at the leaf node and on the ends of branches. They are smaller than the thorns of either Crataegus phaenopyrum or x lavallei. Crataegus phaenopyrum - The thorns are 3 inches (or longer) and very stiff. They form in abundance throughout the canopy.
Crataegus x lavallei - The thorns form in groups on the trunk and stems. They are about 2-3 inch long.

Form
Crataegus laevigata - The tree grows 15-20 feet high and has a dense and tangeled canopy. Crataegus phaenopyrum - It grows 20-30 feet high and wide and has a rounded but irregular form.
Crataegus x lavallei - The tree grows 20 feet high and wide and has a rounded form and very dense canopy.