Washington Hawthorn (C. phaenopyrum)
Also known as: Thornapple · Crataegus phaenopyrum
What's special about Washington Hawthorn (C. phaenopyrum)
Native tree with glossy leaves, white flowers, and persistent red berries.
Growing this variety
Washington Hawthorn (C. phaenopyrum) follows the same growing basics as Hawthorn. Variety-specific maturity above; everything else below applies to the whole Hawthorn family.
Germination
Spacing & depth
How to plant
Macerate ripe fruit to extract seed, clean thoroughly, and cold-stratify 120–180 days. Sow in deep pots; many species need a warm period followed by cold. Transplant seedlings to a sunny site.
Pre-sow treatment
Cold stratify 120–240 days at 34–41°F; some species need warm-cold-warm cycles.
Grower's tip
Hawthorns are excellent wildlife trees with spring flowers, thorny protective branches, and persistent fruit. Many species have edible fruit for jellies.
Soil preferences
Deep, well-drained native soil. Avoid amending the planting hole heavily — roots should learn to grow into the surrounding earth.
5.5–7.5 depending on species (conifers lean acidic; most hardwoods neutral).
Top-dress with compost and mulch in a wide ring; don't backfill with pure compost.
Watering
Deep soak weekly the first two years while roots establish; taper once the tree self-supports.
Slow trickle at the drip line, not the trunk. A 5-gal bucket with a pinhole is ideal.
Overwatered: yellowing, root rot, mushroom collar. Underwatered: leaf scorch, early leaf drop.
Prefers top-watering — Top-water deeply at the base in the morning. Wet leaves at night cause blackspot and powdery mildew.
Temperature tolerance
Broad — most species tolerate 40–90°F once established
Down to species-rated USDA zone minimum
Hardy once established; young seedlings need protection their first winter.
Special germination requirements
Most temperate tree seed needs cold stratification (30–120+ days at 34–41°F) — see each species entry for the exact time.
Container growing
Possible with the right cultivar
Deep tree pots (root trainers) for the first 1–2 seasons; permanent site required for full growth.
Only dwarf, patio, or bonsai forms live long-term in containers.
Detailed harvesting
Not applicable for ornamental/timber trees. Nut and fruit species — pick when they drop naturally.
Post-harvest storage & preservation
Nuts: keep damp and cool, sow promptly. Winged/coned seed: dry, cool, dark in a sealed jar.
Culinary, medicinal & other uses
Shade, windbreak, wildlife habitat, timber, ornament, and long-term carbon storage.
Medicinal or traditional uses are shared for interest only — this is not medical advice. Consult a qualified professional before using any plant medicinally.
Seed saving
Wind- or insect-pollinated; seedlings rarely match the parent exactly (especially named cultivars — those must be grafted or cutting-grown).
Not practical for trees. Expect variation.
Collect fully ripe seed in fall, clean, dry or keep damp per species, then cold-stratify before spring sowing.
Your zone's planting calendar
Pick your USDA hardiness zone and we'll estimate the key dates for hawthorn in your area. These are regional averages — always check your own last-frost forecast before sowing.
My Washington Hawthorn (C. phaenopyrum) Hawthorn notes
Washington Hawthorn (C. phaenopyrum) Hawthorn seeds on hand
Track packets and loose seeds you already have. Private to your account.
Par level — leave at 0 for no alert. Anything below par shows on Seed Starting and your shopping list.
From your kitchen — grow hawthorn from what you already have
Trees usually mean patience — collect fully ripe seed in fall, clean pulp off, and give most species a cold winter (real or in the fridge) before they'll germinate.
- 1Collect ripe seed/nuts/cones in autumn from a healthy parent.
- 2Clean off any fleshy pulp; dry cones warm to release seed.
- 3Cold-stratify in a bag of damp sand or peat in the fridge (34–41°F) for the time listed on the species.
- 4Sow in deep tree pots and grow on 1–2 seasons before planting to a permanent spot.
Storage: Most tree seed keeps 1–3 years cool and dry; oak/hickory/chestnut nuts must stay damp and be sown promptly.
Order more seeds
Running low? Reorder from one of these seed stores.
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Other Hawthorn varieties
Russian Hawthorn (C. ambigua)
N/ACold-hardy species with white flowers and small red fruit.
Azarole (C. azarolus)
N/AMediterranean species with large edible fruit used for jellies and preserves.
Blue Hawthorn (C. brachyacantha)
N/ASouthern U.S. species with distinctive blue-black fruit.
Manchurian Hawthorn (C. chlorosarca)
N/AAsian species with white flowers and red fruit; very cold hardy.
Thornless Cockspur Hawthorn (C. crus-galli var. Inermis)
N/APopular thornless cultivar with glossy leaves and abundant white flowers.
Douglas Hawthorn (C. douglasii)
N/AWestern North American native with black fruit and thorny branches.
English Hawthorn (C. laevigata)
N/AEuropean classic with pink or white spring blooms and red haws.
Large-thorn Hawthorn (C. macracantha)
N/ASpecies noted for exceptionally long thorns and white flower clusters.
Parsley Hawthorn (C. marshallii)
N/ASoutheastern U.S. species with finely cut parsley-like leaves.
Downy Hawthorn (C. mollis)
N/ANative tree with downy young leaves, large white flowers, and red fruit.
Common Hawthorn (C. monogyna)
N/AEuropean hedgerow species; invasive in some regions. White flowers, red haws.
Mayhaw (C. opaca)
N/ASouthern U.S. wetland species with tart fruit prized for jelly.
Chinese Hawthorn (C. pinnatifida)
N/AAsian species with red fruit used fresh, dried, and in traditional medicine.
Yellow-berried Hawthorn (C. punctata var. aurea)
N/AYellow-berried form of dotted hawthorn with attractive fall color.
Fleshy Hawthorn (C. succulenta)
N/ANative shrub or small tree with fleshy red fruit and thorny branches.
Winter King Green Hawthorn (C. viridis 'Winter King')
N/APopular cultivar with silver bark, few thorns, and heavy crops of large red fruit.