Smooth Hawthorn
Crataegus laevigata
- Native to:
- Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Corse, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Poland, Romania, Russia, Sicilia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine
Sten Porse
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Genus:
- Crataegus
- Species:
- Crataegus laevigata
- USDA Symbol:
- CRLA80
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 800 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun
- Bloom Colors:
- white, pink, red
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★★☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Autumnal moth (Epirrita autumnata), Cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia), cymatophoroides false owlet moth (Pseudothyatira cymatophoroides), fall cankerworm (Alsophila pometaria), Itame coortaria, Linden looper (Erannis tiliaria), Red-humped caterpillar moth (Schizura concinna), Red-washed Prominent (Oligocentria semirufescens), Trachycera suavella, Unicorn caterpillar moth (Schizura unicornis)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, bees, butterflies, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fall Color:
- yellow, orange, red
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Prefers fertile soils in its native habitat
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Warm then cold/moist stratification (double dormancy) — 120–180 days
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 365–730 days
- Notes:
- Seeds exhibit double dormancy requiring warm then cold stratification. Germination is often delayed to the second spring after sowing.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI