Not the plant you're looking for? Search over 300,000 plants

Trees

Crataegus persimilis

broad-leaved cockspur thorn

A rounded small tree with stout thorns and dense, glossy, dark green foliage turning orange, yellow and red in autumn. White flowers in clusters, with pink anthers, are borne in early summer and followed by showy, bright red fruit

Save to My plants

Buy this plant

Plant nurseries
2 suppliers

Ultimate height

4–8 metres

Time to ultimate height

10–20 years

Ultimate spread

Wider than 8 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

South–facing or North–facing or West–facing or East–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Rosaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Potentially harmful: Seeds contain toxins so these should be removed if you are considering eating the fruit, usually grown as an ornamental shrub Pets: Fruit are ornamental - not to be eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Genus: Crataegus are deciduous trees and shrubs, usually with spiny branches, lobed or toothed leaves, and clusters of creamy-white flowers followed by red or black fruits. Some have fine autumn colour
Name status: Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in any (except waterlogged) soils in full sun or partial shade

Propagation

Propagate by seed as soon as ripe or by grafting in winter

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Wildflower meadow
Coastal
Wildlife gardens
Hedging and screens

Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

May be susceptible to caterpillars, gall mites and aphids

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews, a rust, honey fungus and fireblight

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.