It is also adaptable to many types of soils and pH levels.
Washington Hawthorn Care
Here are the main care requirements for growing a Washington hawthorn tree.
Light
Although it can grow in partial shade, Washington hawthorn will like a sunny spot.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
It prefers well-drained soil, however.
It’s adaptable to urban pollution, as well.
Water
Water regularly in the beginning.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Once established, they are reasonablydrought-tolerantbut still require watering to keep the trees hydrated.
The Washington hawthorn tree does not do well in very humid climates.
However, it can tolerate hard pruning without injury.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Pruning should be done after blooms are gone or in the fall after its leaves drop.
You may want to call alicensed arboristto prune any hawthorn tree with thorns.
Propagating hawthorn trees with cuttings is not ideal and results will be hit or miss.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
If you want to try cuttings, take hardwood cuttings in the early fall or winter.
Then, take these steps as you would with any other cutting.
The tree is prone to sometimes fatal fire blight which kills blossoms and shoots, resulting in branch dieback.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Washington hawthorn may also be afflicted withfungal leaf spots,powdery mildew, cankers, and apple scab.
What Do Washington Hawthorn Flowers Look and Smell Like?
Clusters of small white flowers resemble apple blossoms.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Flowers have a strong, sweet, and almond-like fragrance.
Common Problems With Washington Hawthorn
Washington hawthorn trees may be less problematic than other hawthorns.
Otherwise, here are a couple more problems to be aware of with this tree.
Train and prune the tree so it is a single trunk to avoid problems.
Browning Branch Tips
Branch tips that look burned with dangling dead brown leaves indicate fire blight.
Prune out the affected branches and avoid using nitrogen fertilizer.
There is no other preventative control.
Consider a thornless cultivar if planting a young tree.
Yes, the branches have hard, spikey thorns that are 1 to 3 inches long.
Growing a thorny hawthorn tree as a hedge can be dangerous if children or pets play or walk nearby.
Washington hawthorn trees are not the only jot down of hawthorn.
Indian hawthorn (Rhaphiolepis indica) is not a tree but abroadleafevergreen shrub.
Crataegus phaenopyrum.North Carolina State Extension.
Best Plants for Problem Clay Soils: Trees and Vines.Missouri Botanical Garden.
Crataegus ‘Vaughn’.Missouri Botanical Garden.
Crataegus phaenopyrum.Lady Bird Johnson Wildlife Center.
Washington Hawthorn.University of Florida Extension.
