Winter King Hawthorn’s Showiest Season

Winter King Hawthorn outside of Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh, PA.

If you’re a bird lover who wants to feed their flock all winter long, Crataegus viridis ‘Winter King’ is the tree for you. This native Green Hawthorn cultivar is best known for its fruits (called haws) that ripen to a bold red in the fall and persist through the winter. I’ve seen the fruits still clinging to the tree in January, feeding birds and small mammals.

In the spring, it has clusters of delicate white flowers that provide nectar for beneficial insects, and it’s a larval host plant for several types of Hairstreak butterflies. In the fall, the leaves range from yellows to reds and purples. Mature trees have silver exfoliating bark that sheds to reveal an orange-hued under-layer and even more winter interest.

Straight species Green Hawthorn trees live up to their name with thorns that can be as long as 1.5 inches. Ouch! While not thornless, ‘Winter King’ has less pronounced thorns. It’s a good tree for small yards and front landscaping as it maxes out at 25-35 feet tall and wide. You’ll want to plant this tree somewhere you will see it all winter. Plant it in full sun for the best fruit production. 

Want to see this tree in person? The photo accompanying this post was taken outside of the Tropical Forest garden at the Center for Sustainable Landscapes at Phipps Conservatory. If you’re in Central Pennsylvania, you can find  Winter King Hawthorn lining the paths in the strolling garden at The Arboretum at Penn State.