Scientific Name
Crataegus crus-galli 'inermis'
The thornless cockspur hawthorn is one of several hawthorn species that is frequently used in modern landscaping when a small tree with attractive form, fruit and fall leaf color is desired, but thorns are not. Native to much of the eastern U.S., cockspur hawthorn can grow to heights of around 30 feet with a comparable canopy spread, but the Colorado champion so far has only reached 23 feet. The common name of the species comes from its thorns and from its fruit (often referred to as “haws”). There are many different hawthorn species and types (botanists disagree widely on how many), but this is the only one encountered in urban areas that has a spoon-shaped leaf. Fortunately, the green industry developed a thornless version of this tree, much friendlier to passersby for lacking the typical 2-inch-long thorns, and it’s been widely adopted over the past few decades.
Cockspur hawthorn blooms in May with many white flowers that have a somewhat disagreeable odor. The fruit, which is related to the apple, is about a half-inch wide, a bright red color and ripens in early fall, after which it is slowly eaten by local wildlife. The fall leaf color can range from golden to red purple. Cockspur hawthorn is tolerant of many soil types, sun exposures and pollution in urban areas.