Crataegus nigra

Crataegus nigra

Native to:
Albania, Hungary, NW. Balkan Pen., Romania

📍 View on iNaturalist →

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Rosaceae
Genus:
Crataegus
Species:
Crataegus nigra
USDA Symbol:
CRNI5

Growth Characteristics

Height:
600 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
Medium
Bloom Months:
may,jun
Bloom Colors:
white, pink
Landscaping Shrub:
Yes

Keystone Species Ranking

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

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
birds, small mammals, bees
Deer Resistant:
Yes
Fragrant:
Yes
Fall Color:
red, purple

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
rich, well-drained loamy soil
pH:
6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
tolerates occasional poor drainage
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
Prefers riverbanks and floodplains in its native range.

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:
Crataegus seeds have deep double dormancy; germination often takes 18-24 months. Scarification followed by warm then cold stratification is typically required.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI