Get to know this plant.
Identification clue 1
Small toothed sometimes lobed leaves
Identification clue 2
Persistent red fruits
Identification clue 3
Bark exfoliates with age
Read the leaves
Simple alternate leaves have teeth and may show shallow lobes. Look at several shoots; thorns can be sparse.
More growing details
Read the bark
Older bark flakes to show patches of gray, tan, and orange.
Fruit & seed
Small red apple-like fruits often remain in winter; the calyx is visible at the tip.
Winter character
Persistent red fruits and exfoliating older bark offer winter clues.
Origin & place
Green hawthorn is chiefly a lowland southeastern species; NC records in the southern mountains are very sparse. Winter King is a cultivated selection.
Compare with Other hawthorns
Fruit, thorns, leaves, and flowers all matter; Winter King is a cultivar and needs provenance.
WNC Notes
Excellent native cultivar with persistent fruit and silvery bark; thorns are fewer but may occur.
Sun Exposure
Full sun–part shade
MATURE HEIGHT (FT)
20–30
MATURE WIDTH (FT)
20–30
BLOOM SEASON
Late spring
BLOOM COLOR
Catkins
FALL / WINTER COLOR
Red-purple; red fruit-brown
Wet-Soil Tolerance
Moderate–high
Drought Tolerance
Low