Azarole

Crataegus azarolus

Native to:
Algeria, Baleares, Cyprus, East Aegean Is., Egypt, France, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Kriti, Lebanon-Syria, Libya, Palestine, Sardegna, Sicilia, Sinai, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Turkmenistan

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Rosaceae
Genus:
Crataegus
Species:
Crataegus azarolus
USDA Symbol:
CRAZ

Growth Characteristics

Height:
1000 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
High
Bloom Months:
apr,may
Bloom Colors:
white
Landscaping Shrub:
Yes

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:
★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
birds, bees, small mammals
Deer Resistant:
Yes
Fragrant:
Yes
Fall Color:
yellow, orange

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
fertile, well-drained loamy soil
pH:
6.0 - 8.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
Prefers calcareous soils in its native range

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Warm then cold/moist stratification (double dormancy) — 90–180 days
Germination Time:
365–730 days
Notes:
Crataegus seeds exhibit double dormancy and may take 1-2 years to germinate. Warm stratification followed by cold stratification is typically required.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI