Chinese hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

Chinese hawthorn is an East Asian tree grown in U.S. gardens, with clusters of white flowers in spring and small, red, apple-like fruit in fall. The fruit attracts birds and can be eaten fresh, cooked, or dried.

Appearance

Growth form: This tree has an open, upright form and only a few short thorns compared with many other hawthorns.
Leaves: The leaves are 2–4 in (5–10 cm) long, oval to wedge-shaped, toothed, and divided into 5–9 lobes.
Flowers: White flowers about 0.75 in (1.9 cm) wide gather in clusters about 3 in (7.6 cm) across.
Flowering time: In North Carolina, flowers open from April through May.
Fruit: Rounded light-red fruit about 0.75 in (1.9 cm) wide ripens in fall and attracts birds.

Look-alikes

appleMalus domestica

Domestic apples usually have much larger fruit, about 2.4–4.7 in (6–12 cm) across. Chinese hawthorn has fruit under 1 in (2.5 cm) wide and leaves with 5–9 obvious lobes.

Why they get mixed upBoth have white spring flowers and round apple-like fruits with a central core.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: woodland gardens
hedges
ornamental plantings
Range: The tree comes from northeastern Asia and is grown as a landscape plant in the United States. It can be grown in North Carolina’s coastal, Piedmont, and mountain regions. Accounts differ on whether it is native to Korea.
Preferred conditions: It grows best in full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. It can grow in 5a–9b.
Flowering: Flowers Apr–May
Flowers Apr–May

Growing it

Propagation: Seed-grown trees may take 5–8 years to bear fruit, while may flower sooner.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: LCLeast ConcernLow risk of extinction

Culture and stories

Culture and stories: The small fruit can be eaten fresh or cooked and is also dried.

12 sources