Parsley Hawthorn

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Crataegus marshallii

Last reviewed: September 2026

Parsley Hawthorn is a small deciduous tree that blooms with white flowers from March through May and grows well in full sun with low water needs, often along woodland edges and stream margins in warm temperate climates.

Parsley Hawthorn (Crataegus marshallii) is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs or cats (aspca.org (opens in new tab), last reviewed 2026-05-21). If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Parsley Hawthorn as toxic to livestock.

Light

full sun

Water

low

Size

120"–300" H × 144"–180" W

Bloom

Mar, Apr, May

Native to

AL, AR, FL, GA and 11 more states

Pollinators

butterflies, bees

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

East Central Texas Plains Western Gulf Coastal Plain South Central Plains Eastern Temperate Forests Piedmont Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain Southeastern Plains Ridge and Valley Mississippi Alluvial Plain Mississippi Valley Loess Plains Southern Coastal Plain

Parsley Hawthorn is a small native Texas tree with delicate, deeply lobed leaves and clusters of white flowers in spring. It produces small red berries in fall and has an attractive, somewhat irregular branching pattern that creates good shade for smaller spaces.

Growing Parsley Hawthorn

Grow Parsley Hawthorn in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 120 to 300 inches tall and spread 144 to 180 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Parsley Hawthorn takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

Tree size exceeds typical HOA-friendly range

Wildlife value

The spring flowers attract bees and butterflies, while the small red berries feed birds throughout fall and winter. The dense branching also provides excellent nesting sites for songbirds.

Common questions

When does Parsley Hawthorn bloom?: Parsley Hawthorn typically blooms from March through May, producing clusters of small white flowers before the leaves fully expand.
What pollinators visit Parsley Hawthorn flowers?: Bees and butterflies are the main visitors to Parsley Hawthorn blossoms, attracted to the nectar and pollen the tree produces each spring.
How much water does Parsley Hawthorn need?: Once established, this tree tolerates low water conditions and does well in sites that dry out between rains, though it can handle occasional moisture too.
What growing conditions suit Parsley Hawthorn best?: Parsley Hawthorn grows best in full sun with well drained soil and is often seen along woodland edges, fence rows, and stream banks in warm climates.
What does Parsley Hawthorn look like?: It is a small tree with deeply lobed, parsley-like leaves, flaky gray bark, and clusters of white spring flowers followed by small red fruit in fall.
Is Parsley Hawthorn toxic to dogs?: Parsley Hawthorn is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs (aspca.org).
Is Parsley Hawthorn toxic to cats?: Parsley Hawthorn is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for cats (aspca.org).
Is Parsley Hawthorn toxic to livestock?: The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Parsley Hawthorn as toxic to livestock.
Is Parsley Hawthorn HOA-friendly?: Parsley Hawthorn takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

See all plant problem guides

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Common questions

When does Parsley Hawthorn bloom?

Parsley Hawthorn typically blooms from March through May, producing clusters of small white flowers before the leaves fully expand.

What pollinators visit Parsley Hawthorn flowers?

Bees and butterflies are the main visitors to Parsley Hawthorn blossoms, attracted to the nectar and pollen the tree produces each spring.

How much water does Parsley Hawthorn need?

Once established, this tree tolerates low water conditions and does well in sites that dry out between rains, though it can handle occasional moisture too.

What growing conditions suit Parsley Hawthorn best?

Parsley Hawthorn grows best in full sun with well drained soil and is often seen along woodland edges, fence rows, and stream banks in warm climates.

What does Parsley Hawthorn look like?

It is a small tree with deeply lobed, parsley-like leaves, flaky gray bark, and clusters of white spring flowers followed by small red fruit in fall.

Is Parsley Hawthorn toxic to dogs?

Parsley Hawthorn is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs (aspca.org).

Is Parsley Hawthorn toxic to cats?

Parsley Hawthorn is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for cats (aspca.org).

Is Parsley Hawthorn toxic to livestock?

The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Parsley Hawthorn as toxic to livestock.

Is Parsley Hawthorn HOA-friendly?

Parsley Hawthorn takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Common plant problems, and what to check first

See all plant problem guides