When does Washington Hawthorn bloom?

Washington Hawthorn produces clusters of small white flowers in May and June, followed by bright red fruit that ripens in fall.

What pollinators visit Washington Hawthorn flowers?

The flowers attract bees, beetles, and flies, which feed on the nectar and pollen during the spring bloom period.

How much sun does Washington Hawthorn need?

It performs best in full sun but can tolerate part sun to part shade, though flowering and fruiting are heaviest with more direct light.

How much water does Washington Hawthorn need?

It grows well with medium moisture and, once established, tolerates shorter dry spells without significant stress.

What is the growth habit of Washington Hawthorn?

It is a small deciduous tree with an upright, rounded canopy, thorny branches, and glossy dark green leaves that often turn orange or red in fall.

Is Washington Hawthorn toxic to livestock?

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

Is Washington Hawthorn HOA-friendly?

Washington Hawthorn is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with moderate maintenance.

Washington Hawthorn

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Crataegus phaenopyrum

Last reviewed: September 2026

Washington Hawthorn is a small deciduous tree that blooms in May and June with clusters of white flowers, followed by red fall fruit. It grows best in full sun with medium water and adapts to drier sites once established.

Washington Hawthorn (Crataegus phaenopyrum) 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 Washington Hawthorn as toxic to livestock.

Light

full sun

Water

medium

Size

240"–480" H × 240"–360" W

Bloom

May, Jun

Native to

AL, AR, DE, FL and 18 more states

Pollinators

bees, beetles, flies

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

Puget Lowland Marine West Coast Forest Ozark Highlands Central Irregular Plains Piedmont Western Corn Belt Plains Eastern Corn Belt Plains Northeastern Coastal Zone Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain Northern Piedmont Southeastern Plains Blue Ridge Ridge and Valley Interior River Valleys and Hills

Washington hawthorn is a small to medium-sized native tree that produces clusters of white flowers in late spring followed by bright red berries in fall. It offers excellent four-season interest with spring blooms, summer foliage, colorful fall berries, and an attractive branching structure in winter.

Growing Washington Hawthorn

Grow Washington Hawthorn in full sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 240 to 480 inches tall and spread 240 to 360 inches wide. Expect moderate maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Washington Hawthorn is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: moderate. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.

Works well in: front yard, street edge, mid zone.

Has thorns that may require careful placement away from walkways
Berry drop in late winter may need cleanup

Wildlife value

The flowers attract bees, beetles, and flies in May and June. The persistent red berries provide important winter food for birds.

Common questions

When does Washington Hawthorn bloom?: Washington Hawthorn produces clusters of small white flowers in May and June, followed by bright red fruit that ripens in fall.
What pollinators visit Washington Hawthorn flowers?: The flowers attract bees, beetles, and flies, which feed on the nectar and pollen during the spring bloom period.
How much sun does Washington Hawthorn need?: It performs best in full sun but can tolerate part sun to part shade, though flowering and fruiting are heaviest with more direct light.
How much water does Washington Hawthorn need?: It grows well with medium moisture and, once established, tolerates shorter dry spells without significant stress.
What is the growth habit of Washington Hawthorn?: It is a small deciduous tree with an upright, rounded canopy, thorny branches, and glossy dark green leaves that often turn orange or red in fall.
Is Washington Hawthorn toxic to dogs?: Washington Hawthorn is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs (aspca.org).
Is Washington Hawthorn toxic to cats?: Washington Hawthorn is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for cats (aspca.org).
Is Washington Hawthorn toxic to livestock?: The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Washington Hawthorn as toxic to livestock.
Is Washington Hawthorn HOA-friendly?: Washington Hawthorn is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with moderate maintenance.

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

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). 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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