Green Hawthorn
Crataegus viridis
- Native to:
- United States
iNaturalist: © themillersdaughter (iNaturalist #45386451)






Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Genus:
- Crataegus
- Species:
- Crataegus viridis
- USDA Symbol:
- CRVI2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 1200 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may
- Bloom Colors:
- white
Wildlife Benefits
- 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
leaf crumpler moth (Acrobasis indigenella)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fall Color:
- red, purple
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Prefers riverbanks and wetland areas
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Warm then cold/moist stratification (double dormancy) — 120–240 days
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 365–730 days
- Notes:
- Seeds have double dormancy requiring warm then cold stratification. Germination may take 1-2 years and is often erratic.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Cold stratification prior to planting
Source: npn.rngr.net