Green hawthorn (Crataegus viridis 'Winter King')

Overview

Crataegus viridis ‘Winter King’, widely known as Green hawthorn, is prized by landscape designers for its reliable, multi-season appeal and robust nature. This cultivar stands out due to its relatively spineless habit, profuse white flowers, and excellent resistance to common hawthorn diseases, making it a top choice for structured plantings. It forms a dense, rounded silhouette perfect for providing shade and seasonal color in various settings.

As a native of the southeastern U.S., this Green hawthorn thrives in challenging conditions once established, offering beautiful foliage that turns purple to red in the autumn. The persistent red fruits provide essential winter interest, lingering long after the leaves drop and feeding local wildlife. ‘Winter King’ truly delivers year-round value in the landscape.

This hardy performer establishes easily in average soils and demonstrates significant tolerance for urban stressors. Gardeners seeking a medium-sized, low-maintenance flowering specimen that delivers on color, fruit, and structure should seriously consider Crataegus viridis ‘Winter King’.

Fast Facts

• Plant Family: Rosaceae
• Plant Type: Tree
• Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-7
• Size at Maturity:
  • Height: 25-35 ft
  • Spread: 25-35 ft
• Bloom Time: May
• Bloom Description: White
• Sun Exposure: Full sun
• Water Needs: Dry to medium
• Maintenance Level: Low

How to Grow

Planting Crataegus viridis ‘Winter King’ is best achieved in the spring or fall, allowing the roots to establish before extreme weather hits. Ensure it receives full sun, though it can tolerate light shade, for the best flowering display. This tree prefers average, well-drained soils that are on the drier side; avoid overly rich, fertile soils which can lead to excessive, unwanted soft, succulent growth.

Once established, the Green hawthorn is notably drought-tolerant, requiring infrequent deep watering during dry spells. Fertilization is generally unnecessary unless the soil is severely poor. Focus maintenance on early structural pruning, removing crossing branches while the tree is young to encourage its dense, rounded form.

Be aware that while Crataegus viridis ‘Winter King’ is highly disease-resistant, occasional issues like cedar hawthorn rust (if red cedars are nearby) or fireblight can occur. Prune out any affected wood immediately when spotted and dispose of the debris to minimize spread. Its tolerance for urban pollution makes it an exceptional street tree candidate.

Landscape Uses

The Green hawthorn is universally recommended as a superb flowering tree for both expansive lawns and confined streetscapes. Its manageable size of 25 to 35 feet tall and wide allows it to fit well into residential yards without overwhelming the space. Plant Crataegus viridis ‘Winter King’ where its early spring bloom and reliably persistent red fruit can be fully appreciated.

Use this specimen tree as a focal point or as part of a multi-season display border. Because it offers good fall color (purple and scarlet) alongside its fruit, pair it with late-blooming shrubs or evergreens that contrast nicely with its winter silhouette. Its pollution tolerance confirms its value near paved areas or commercial districts.

This cultivar offers a fantastic alternative to larger, higher-maintenance flowering trees. When placed near a patio or window, you can enjoy the fragrant white flowers in May and the bright red haws that last well into the colder months.

Standout Features

Flower Qualities

• Showy

Fruit Qualities

• Showy

Noteworthy Characteristics

Crataegus viridis, commonly called green hawthorn, is native to the southeastern U.S. and forms a dense, rounded, largely spineless tree that typically grows 20-35’ tall. Its fragrant, 5-petaled white flowers appear in May, followed by small red fruits (pomes) that often persist into winter, providing vital food for birds. The cultivar ‘Winter King’ is especially prized for superior disease resistance, profuse blooming, larger fruits, and more attractive purple and scarlet fall color.

Tolerances

• Drought
• Clay Soil
• Dry Soil

Potential Problems

The ‘Winter King’ cultivar is celebrated as one of the most disease-resistant among hawthorns, yet vigilance is still useful. The primary concern is cedar hawthorn rust, which requires Eastern Red Cedars (a host plant) to be present in the vicinity for the disease cycle to complete. Should you notice rust spots, you must remove the nearby cedars to control the issue long-term.

As with most trees in the Crataegus genus, fireblight remains a potential threat, especially during damp, warm springs. Quickly prune out any branches exhibiting blackened, water-soaked tips, cutting well into healthy wood to ensure complete removal. Fungal leaf spots and occasional scale insects may also appear but rarely cause significant long-term harm to a healthy specimen.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hardiness zones is Green hawthorn suitable for?

The Green hawthorn, Crataegus viridis ‘Winter King’, is reliably hardy across USDA Zones 4 through 7.

How large does Crataegus viridis ‘Winter King’ grow?

This tree typically reaches a mature height between 25 and 35 feet, with an equal spread ranging from 25 to 35 feet, forming a broad, spreading crown.

When does Green hawthorn bloom?

This tree features a beautiful, profuse bloom of fragrant white flowers during the month of May.

What sun exposure does Crataegus viridis ‘Winter King’ need?

For optimal flowering and structure, Crataegus viridis ‘Winter King’ requires full sun exposure.

Conclusion

The Crataegus viridis ‘Winter King’ offers exceptional value as a low-maintenance, hardy landscape tree that shines across all four seasons. Between its magnificent white spring flowers and its persistent red fruit supply for winter wildlife, the Green hawthorn proves itself indispensable. Verify that your site sits within USDA Zones 4 to 7, and plan to plant this excellent cultivar during the appropriate cool season for guaranteed success.

Companion Planting

Selecting companions for Green hawthorn involves choosing plants that share its preference for full sun and tolerance for drier or average conditions. Consider pairing it with late-blooming ornamental grasses, such as Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), whose upright texture contrasts beautifully with the spreading canopy of the Crataegus viridis ‘Winter King’ in the late summer and fall.

For understory planting beneath the spread of the mature tree, focus on low-growing native perennials that do not compete vigorously for moisture. Plants like Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense) or various native sedges (Carex species) appreciate the light shade cast by the tree and thrive in the relatively dry soil that this hawthorn prefers.

When designing formal plantings, use low-growing evergreen shrubs along walkways adjacent to the Green hawthorn. These foundation plantings will help anchor the landscape during winter, drawing attention to the silvery bark and persistent berries of the Crataegus viridis ‘Winter King’ when deciduous plants are bare.

Wildlife Benefits

The small red fruits, or haws, produced by Crataegus viridis ‘Winter King’ are a celebrated late-season food source. These pomes ripen in September but frequently remain attached throughout the fall and into the winter, providing critical sustenance for migrating and overwintering songbirds when other food sources are scarce.

The dense structure of this large shrub/small tree offers excellent nesting and roosting cover. Birds seek shelter within the heavy branching of the Green hawthorn, especially during high wind or inclement weather. This structural benefit enhances biodiversity even in urban environments where natural cover is limited.

While established trees are largely spineless, the thorny nature of the species and the occasional thorns on the ‘Winter King’ cultivar offer minor protection against climbing predatory animals, adding a layer of defense for nesting birds near the center of the canopy.