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Crusader® Native Hawthorn Crataegus crus-galli var. inermis

Exposure
  • Sun
Flower Season
  • Spring
Mature Size
15' 15' 4.6m 4.6m
Height: 15'
Spread: 12' - 15'
Height: 4.6m
Spread: 3.7m - 4.6m
  • Details

    180 - 180 Inches
    144 - 180 Inches
    144 - 180 Inches
    4.6m
    3.7m - 4.6m
    3.7m - 4.6m

    Features

    In addition to its abundant white floral display in late spring, attractive silver bark, colorful fall foliage, and showy fruit, this thornless native hawthorn tolerates just about any challenge you can give it. It shrugs off wet and dry soils, is not fussy about pH levels, is unbothered by clay or salt, and resists the many diseases that often plague the rose family.

    Top reasons to grow Crusader® hawthorn:

    - Thornless native hawthorn!

    - Showy fruit that supports wildlife.

    - Easy care, less worry about disease or insect damage.

    Attracts: 
    Bees
    Resists: 
    Deer
    Rabbits
    Native to North America

    Characteristics

    Plant Type: 
    Tree
    Shrub Type: 
    Deciduous
    Height Category: 
    Tall
    Garden Height: 
    180 Inches 4.6m
    Spacing: 
    144 - 180 Inches 3.7m - 4.6m
    Spread: 
    144 - 180 Inches 3.7m - 4.6m
    Flower Colors: 
    White
    Foliage Colors: 
    Green
    Foliage Shade: 
    Dark Green
    Habit: 
    Upright
    Container Role: 
    Thriller

    Plant Needs

    Light Requirement: 
    Sun

    The optimum amount of sun or shade each plant needs to thrive: Full Sun (6+ hours), Part Sun (4-6 hours), Full Shade (up to 4 hours).

    Maintenance Category: 
    Easy
    Blooms On: 
    New Wood
    Bloom Time: 
    Spring
    Hardiness Zones: 
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
    Water Category: 
    Average
    Uses: 
    Container
    Uses: 
    Landscape
    Uses: 
    Specimen or Focal Point
    Uses Notes: 

    Works well as a specimen tree or as the starting point for a native garden. 

    Maintenance Notes: 

    Pruning should be done cautiously, with a light hand. Excessive pruning can stunt its growth. If you wish to shape or remove crossing branches, do so in wintertime when it's dormant.

    Grows well in most soil types, but prefers those that are moist and well-draining. 

    Crusader® Crataegus crus-galli var. inermis 'Cruzam'
  • 1 Review

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    Browse reviews from people who have grown this plant.
    • We planted three of these in 1998 and they're still doing well despite girdling by sapsuckers and several years of rust (fungus). They are blooming profusely this year and abuzz with pollinators. What they don't tell you is the blossoms have an unusual aroma. The first few years we thought there was a dead mammal that had fallen into our water feature, but eventually discovered it was the scent of the blossoms. Now that I know what it is, it doesn't seem so bad, just most unusual. Also they are the second phase of several parasitic rusts (cedar-hawthorne rust, for example). I had to eliminate most of my junipers near them as that seemed to be the host causing them to turn rusty colored and grow ugly nubbins on the branches. They have recovered with seasonal sprays and eliminating the junipers. I would probably recommend other ornamental trees before these for reasons mentioned.

      Agatha
      , Maine
      , United States
      , 2 years ago
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