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Crataegus x lavallei
Lavalle hawthorn
Hybrid of garden origin raised at the Segrez Arboretum in France around 1880; parentage includes {Crataegus crus-galli} (cockspur hawthorn, eastern North America) and {C. stipulacea} (Mexico)
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Overview
Crataegus x lavallei is a deciduous tree hybrid in the family Rosaceae, reaching 20-30 feet (6-9 m) tall and 15-25 feet (4.5-7.5 m) wide with an upright rounded habit. The hybrid was raised at the Segrez Arboretum in France around 1880 from Crataegus crus-galli (cockspur hawthorn, eastern North America) and C. stipulacea (Mexico). White flowers with pink-red anthers 0.5-0.75 inch (1.3-2 cm) across open in flat-topped corymbs 3-4 inches (7-10 cm) across in May and June. Leaves are unlobed to shallowly lobed, glossy dark green, and 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) long — the unlobed glossy foliage separates C. x lavallei from most cultivated hawthorns, which carry distinctly lobed leaves. Fall foliage turns reddish-bronze and holds late into the season after most other hawthorns have dropped their leaves. Large orange-red haws 0.5-0.75 inch (1.3-2 cm) across hang in clusters from October through February — fruit persistence exceeds that of any other commonly cultivated hawthorn. Thorns are sparse to absent on mature trees and more frequent on young growth. Fire blight (Erwinia amylovora) is the main disease limitation and causes sudden branch dieback with blackened scorched-looking foliage; cedar-hawthorn rust (Gymnosporangium spp.) also occurs in regions where Juniperus virginiana is present. The hybrid tolerates urban conditions, alkaline soils including chalk, wind, and drought once established.
Native Range
Crataegus x lavallei is a hybrid of garden origin raised at the Segrez Arboretum in France around 1880. The parentage is Crataegus crus-galli (cockspur hawthorn, native to eastern North America from Quebec south to Florida and west to Texas) and C. stipulacea (native to Mexico and Guatemala). The hybrid does not occur in wild populations.Suggested Uses
Planted as a small specimen tree, street tree, or hedgerow component at 15-25 foot (4.5-7.5 m) spacing. The persistent orange-red winter haws, glossy dark unlobed foliage, and tolerance of urban conditions, alkaline soils, and wind suit the hybrid to street and parking-lot positions where many other small flowering trees struggle. Winter fruit display extends interest from October through February — well past the fruit drop period of most other hawthorns. Combined with evergreen background plantings of Ilex or Mahonia for contrast against the orange-red winter haws in zones 4-8. Not suited to positions in known fire blight outbreak zones where annual pressure makes the tree a maintenance burden, sites near Juniperus virginiana in regions where cedar-hawthorn rust is recurring, or high-traffic pedestrian pathways where the thorns on young shoots conflict with regular contact.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height20' - 30'
Width/Spread15' - 25'
Reaches mature size in approximately 12 years
Bloom Information
White flowers with pink-red anthers 0.5-0.75 inch (1.3-2 cm) across open in flat-topped corymbs 3-4 inches (7-10 cm) across in May and June, averaging 3 weeks of bloom. Flowers are bee-pollinated. Large orange-red haws 0.5-0.75 inch (1.3-2 cm) across ripen by October and persist on the branches through February — fruit persistence exceeds that of other commonly cultivated hawthorns.Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
white with pink-red anthers; single; 0.5-0.75 inch (1.3-2 cm) across; borne in flat-topped corymbs 3-4 inches (7-10 cm) acrossFoliage Description
glossy dark green; unlobed to shallowly lobed leaves 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) long; reddish-bronze in fall and persisting lateGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 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
Plant in well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0-7.5 in full sun; tolerated soil types include loam, clay, chalk, and sand. The hybrid tolerates urban conditions, alkaline chalk soils, wind, and air pollution. Water weekly through the first 1-2 growing seasons; established trees are drought-tolerant. Fire blight (Erwinia amylovora) is the main disease concern — affected branches are removed 12 inches (30 cm) below the visible infection point, with pruning tools disinfected between cuts to prevent transferring the bacteria to healthy wood. Cedar-hawthorn rust (Gymnosporangium spp.) appears as orange spots on leaves where Juniperus virginiana is nearby because the pathogen requires both genera to complete its life cycle. Pruning is done in late winter (February-March). Thorns are sparse on mature trunks but more numerous on young shoots, and they cause puncture wounds during handling.Pruning
Pruning is done in late winter (February-March) before bud break. Dead, crossing, and damaged branches are removed at the branch collar, and a strong central leader is developed in young trees through corrective pruning over the first 5-7 years after planting. Fire blight-affected branches are removed 12 inches (30 cm) below the visible infection point and pruning tools are disinfected with 70% isopropyl alcohol or a 10% bleach solution between cuts to prevent transferring the bacteria to healthy wood. Thorns on young shoots cause puncture wounds during handling of pruning debris.Pruning Schedule
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early spring