Sunday, March 20, 2011

Dwarf Hawthorn - Crataegus uniflora

Crataegus uniflora is one of the easiest to identify Hawthorns, but it is also the easiest to overlook. Once you've seen them, the leaves are hard to mistake.

As the name implies, this is a small shrub. In my opinion, it's probably the cutest of the native Ohio shrubs. Height is typically less than 18 inches, with many flowering specimens being less than a foot tall.

I've seen Crataegus uniflora growing in both sun and shade. It is most common on calcareous soils, but I've also seen it growing on low pH shale based soils. Watch for it as you check out the spring wildflowers in Southern Ohio.
Photos taken May 23, 2009 in Adams County, Ohio.

1 comment:

  1. I'm really enjoying seeing your images of plenty of Southern Ohio species, Steve. I best know the flora of the northern and central part of the state.

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