Willow Hawthorn

Crataegus saligna

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Rosaceae
Genus:
Crataegus
Species:
Crataegus saligna

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Shrub , Tree
Height:
12-20 ft
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
High
Bloom Months:
may, jun
Bloom Colors:
White
Landscaping Shrub:
Yes

Native Range

United States: Colorado, Utah

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:
★☆☆☆☆ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Autumnal moth (Epirrita autumnata), Blinded Sphinx (Paonias excaecata), brown-tipped selenia (Selenia alciphearia), Dimorphic Euchlaena Moth (Euchlaena mollisaria), Fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea), fragile dagger moth (Acronicta fragilis), funeral dagger moth (Acronicta funeralis), George's pinion (Lithophane georgii), Morning-glory prominent moth (Schizura ipomoeae), Radcliffe's dagger moth (Acronicta radcliffei), Rusty Tussock Moth (Orgyia antiqua), Synaxis jubararia, Waved Sphinx (Ceratomia undulosa), Western tent caterpillar (Malacosoma californica), Pale Swallowtail (Papilio eurymedon)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
pH:
6.0 - 8.0 (neutral to slightly alkaline)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
native to riparian zones, prefers sunny areas

Germination Information

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

Source: OpenAI GPT-4o