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Overview
Crataegus gaylussacia is a deciduous shrub or small tree reaching 10-25 feet (3-7.5 m) tall and 8-15 feet (2.4-4.5 m) wide at maturity. The trunk is short and often divided near the ground, forming a multi-stemmed habit; bark is gray-brown and develops shallow furrows with age. Branches bear stout, dark thorns 0.5-1 inch (1.3-2.5 cm) long. Leaves are alternate, simple, broadly oval to obovate, 1-2.5 inches (2.5-6 cm) long with toothed margins and shallow lobes near the leaf tip. Foliage is glossy dark green above, paler below, turning yellow before drop in October. White flowers 0.4-0.6 inches (10-15 mm) across appear in flat-topped corymbs of 6-12 in May. Fruit is a dark purple-black pome 0.3-0.5 inches (8-13 mm) across with 3-5 nutlets, ripening from late August through September. Plants are long-lived with documented specimens exceeding 100 years. Spread is slow; typical annual growth is 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) on young plants, slower at maturity. Plants form thickets where suckering occurs in moist soils.
Native Range
Native to the Pacific Northwest from southern British Columbia south to northern California and east to Idaho. Occupies streamsides, moist meadow margins, and fence rows below 4,000 feet (1,200 m). Most common on alluvial soils in valley-bottom positions of the Columbia and Willamette river systems.Suggested Uses
Used in native plant restoration along streambanks and in hedgerows in zones 5-8, spaced 8-12 feet (2.4-3.6 m) apart for thicket effect or 15-20 feet (4.5-6 m) for open growth. Berries are eaten by birds and small mammals; thorny branches create nesting cover. Not used adjacent to apple or pear orchards due to shared fireblight susceptibility.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height10' - 25'
Width/Spread8' - 15'
Reaches mature size in approximately 25 years
Bloom Information
Mid to late May through early June in zones 5-8, with flat-topped corymbs of 6-12 white flowers appearing as leaves expand. Bloom lasts 10-14 days at any single site; cool weather can extend it to 18 days. Honeybees and native solitary bees are the primary pollinators.Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
glossy dark green above, paler belowGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in full sun to part shade in moist, well-drained loam or clay loam at neutral to slightly acid pH. Water deeply once weekly during the first two growing seasons; established plants tolerate moderate drought but produce smaller fruit crops in dry years. Cedar-hawthorn rust occurs where eastern red cedar or Rocky Mountain juniper grow within 2 miles (3 km), causing orange spots on leaves and fruit; severity is cosmetic in most years. Fireblight can kill branches in warm, wet springs; affected wood is cut 12 inches (30 cm) below visible damage. Plants are tolerant of spring flooding for 2-4 weeks, an adaptation to their riparian habitat. Mature trees rarely require fertilization in native soil.Pruning
Prune in late winter (February to early March) before bud break to remove crossing or damaged branches and shape the canopy. Suckers from the base or rootstock are removed at ground level if a single-trunk form is wanted. Heavy pruning reduces the next year's flower and fruit crop by 30-50%; light annual maintenance retains crop volume. Thorns are stiff and can puncture skin during work in the canopy.Pruning Schedule
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winterearly spring