Identifying Characteristics
| Size/Form: | Hawthorns are small, bushy, shrub-like, deciduous trees that range in height from 15' to 30' tall, with arching branches and frequently crooked trunks. They are heavily armed with long, slender thorns. |
| Leaves: | The leaves are simple, alternately arranged, and wedge-shaped, with serrate to slightly-lobed margins. They are frequently clustered on short spur shoots along the twigs. The leaves are dark green and sometimes lustrous. Some species have hairy leaves and twigs, while others are smooth. Sharp thorns stick out from leaf axils and along the branches. |
| Fruit: | The fruit is a pome, or small apple, containing 2 to 5 bony nutlet-type seeds. The fruit may be yellowish-orange, scarlet red, or occasionally black when ripe. |
| Bark: | The bark is generally thin and smooth, but may be scaly on some trees. Bark color ranges from gray to reddish-brown. Twigs are slender and have a zig-zag pattern, with sharp thorns and fleshy, reddish winter buds. |
| Habitat: | Hawthorn can grow in a variety of soil types from dry, sandy, or rocky to well-drained, moist soil. It is often seen growing in old fields, pastures, open wooded areas, and rights-of-way. |