Crataegus alabamensis: Uses (Ethnobotany)
The wood is strong, heavy, and hard, but rarely used in commercial applications. The leaves, berries, and flowers are used in medicines and herbals for cardiovascular health.
Plant Profile: Crataegus alabamensis
Taxonomy: Crataegus alabamensisNames
Alabama Hawthorn, Hawthorn, Thornapple
Phonetic Spelling:krah-TEE-gus al-uh-bam-EN-sis
Genus:Crataegus
Species:alabamensis
Family:Rosaceae
Alabama Hawthorn is a native shrub belonging to the rose family, primarily found in the Southeastern United States. While it is one of several species within the Hawthorn genus that populate this region, its current distribution is limited to open woodlands in Georgia and Florida. Characteristically, Alabama Hawthorn presents as a shrub or small tree adorned with long, straight thorns. In the spring, it produces white flowers that eventually develop into red or yellow fruit by the fall.
**Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Issues:**
There are no known diseases or significant issues affecting this plant.
Crataegus alabamensis Feature Summary
Crataegus alabamensis Image Gallery
Tags
#deciduous
#small tree
#white flowers
#shrub
#wildlife plant
#moths
#nectar plant
#native shrub
#cover plant
#NC native
#edible fruits
#Braham Arboretum
#nesting sites
#larval host plant
#bird friendly
#nectar plant late spring
#butterfly friendly
#nectar plant mid-spring
#pollinator garden
#non-toxic for horses
#non-toxic for dogs
#non-toxic for cats
#red-spotted purple butterfly
#gray hairstreak butterfly
#viceroy butterflies
Similar Plants
Crataegus alabamensis Feature Summary
Attributes
The wood is strong, heavy, and hard, but rarely used in commercial applications. The leaves, berries, and flowers are used in medicines and herbals for cardiovascular health.
Southeast North America, NC
Currently found in Alabama and Florida
Important nectar flower for insects; food plant of many moths including the eggar moth; haws provide winter fruit for songbirds. This plant provides nectar for other pollinators. It is a larval host plant for Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax), and Viceroy (Limenitis archippus). Red-spotted Purple and Viceroy rarely use this host plant in North Carolina. Good nesting habitat with thorns providing protection from predators.
Woody
Edible fruit
Wildlife Food Source
Attracts Pollinators
Wildlife Nesting
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Fruit
Small red pome with 1 to 5 pyrenes that resemble the “stones” in related plums, peaches, etc. Sometimes called the ‘haw’.
Pome
Red/Burgundy
Edible
Flowers
Inflorescence with 3-6 flowers, hypanthium hairy and white. Flower blooms from April to May. Some consider the fragrance to be pleasant, others consider it unpleasant.
White
Fragrant
Showy
Spring
4-5 petals/rays
Leaves
Two to three inch long, wedge-shaped, leaves notched on the edges. Oblong to cuneate, margins crenate-serrate.
Deciduous
Green
Simple
Alternate
Ovate
Oblong
Cuneate
Serrate
Crenate
1-3 inches
Rough
Bark
Thin, smooth and gray bark, black with age. On old stems, it breaks up into narrow scales.
Dark Gray
Light Gray
Black
Smooth
Stem
New growth densely tomentose, 1-year old twigs dark gray, spines present
Gray/Silver
Hairy (pubescent)
Whole Plant Traits
Shrub
Tree
Deciduous
Spreading
Vase
Medium
Low
Coarse
Thorns
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Moist
Occasionally Wet
8b
8a
9a
9b
10a
10b
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Winter Garden
Butterflies
Pollinators
Songbirds
Crataegus alabamensis Image Gallery
Crataegus alabamensis Attributes
Crataegus alabamensis: Country Or Region Of Origin
Southeast North America, NC
Crataegus alabamensis: Distribution
Currently found in Alabama and Florida
Crataegus alabamensis: Wildlife Value
Important nectar flower for insects; food plant of many moths including the eggar moth; haws provide winter fruit for songbirds. This plant provides nectar for other pollinators. It is a larval host plant for Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax), and Viceroy (Limenitis archippus). Red-spotted Purple and Viceroy rarely use this host plant in North Carolina. Good nesting habitat with thorns providing protection from predators.
Crataegus alabamensis: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Crataegus alabamensis: Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Crataegus alabamensis: Play Value
Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer
Crataegus alabamensis Fruit
Crataegus alabamensis: Fruit Description
Small red pome with 1 to 5 pyrenes that resemble the “stones” in related plums, peaches, etc. Sometimes called the ‘haw’.
Crataegus alabamensis: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Crataegus alabamensis: Fruit Color
Red/Burgundy
Crataegus alabamensis: Fruit Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Crataegus alabamensis: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Crataegus alabamensis Flowers
Crataegus alabamensis: Flower Description
Inflorescence with 3-6 flowers, hypanthium hairy and white. Flower blooms from April to May. Some consider the fragrance to be pleasant, others consider it unpleasant.
Crataegus alabamensis: Flower Color
White
Crataegus alabamensis: Flower Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Crataegus alabamensis: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Crataegus alabamensis: Flower Petals
2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals
Crataegus alabamensis Leaves
Crataegus alabamensis: Leaf Description
Two to three inch long, wedge-shaped, leaves notched on the edges. Oblong to cuneate, margins crenate-serrate.
Crataegus alabamensis: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Crataegus alabamensis: Leaf Color
Green
Crataegus alabamensis: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Crataegus alabamensis: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Crataegus alabamensis: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Crataegus alabamensis: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Crataegus alabamensis: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Crataegus alabamensis: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Crataegus alabamensis: Leaf Feel
Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy
Crataegus alabamensis Bark
Crataegus alabamensis: Bark Description
Thin, smooth and gray bark, black with age. On old stems, it breaks up into narrow scales.
Crataegus alabamensis: Bark Color
Black
Dark Gray
Light Gray
Crataegus alabamensis: Surface/Attachment
Bumpy
Exfoliating
Fissured
Furrowed
Lenticels
Papery
Patchy
Peeling
Ridges
Scaly
Shaggy
Shiny
Shredding
Smooth
Spongy
Crataegus alabamensis Stem
Crataegus alabamensis: Stem Description
New growth densely tomentose, 1-year old twigs dark gray, spines present
Crataegus alabamensis: Stem Color
Gray/Silver
Crataegus alabamensis: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Crataegus alabamensis: Stem Surface
Corky Ridges
Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
Dull
Hairy (pubescent)
Polished
Smooth (glabrous)
Crataegus alabamensis Whole Plant Traits
Crataegus alabamensis: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Crataegus alabamensis: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Crataegus alabamensis: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Crataegus alabamensis: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Crataegus alabamensis: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Crataegus alabamensis: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Crataegus alabamensis: Appendage
Prickles
Spines
Tendrils
Thorns
Crataegus alabamensis Cultural Conditions
Crataegus alabamensis: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Crataegus alabamensis: Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Crataegus alabamensis: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Crataegus alabamensis: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
10a
10b
8a
8b
9a
9b
Crataegus alabamensis: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Crataegus alabamensis Landscape
Crataegus alabamensis: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Crataegus alabamensis: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
