Duke Hawthorn

Crataegus × atrorubens

Native to:
United States
Duke Hawthorn

GBIF: Heinrich K. D. Eggert

📍 View on iNaturalist →

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Rosaceae
Genus:
Crataegus
Species:
Crataegus × atrorubens
USDA Symbol:
CRST

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Shrub , Tree
Height:
600 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
Medium
Bloom Months:
may,jun
Bloom Colors:
white, pink
Landscaping Shrub:
Yes

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
Butterflies & Moths:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)

Keystone Species Ranking

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

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
birds, small mammals, butterflies, bees
Deer Resistant:
Yes
Fragrant:
Yes
Fall Color:
red, orange
Fire Ecology:
Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
Fire Notes:
Resprouts from the root crown following fire. Tolerates occasional fire in savanna or woodland edge habitats.

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Warm then cold/moist stratification (double dormancy) — 120–180 days
Scarification:
Seed coat scarification required before sowing
Germination Time:
30–365 days
Notes:
Hawthorn seeds have deep dormancy requiring acid scarification or warm stratification followed by cold stratification. Germination may take 1-2 years.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI

Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).; then Cold-moist stratification for 60 days.

Source: Claude AI