skip to main content

Northwestern Gardening

Crataegus Viridis

16 years ago

We are wanting to line our driveway with Crataegus Viridis 'Winter King'. Would like to hear from anyone who has grown this cultivar in the PNW as to the growth rate of this tree? Also, has anyone planted this bare root?

Thanks.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

Embothrium
16 years ago
After I saw it with all the fruits already on the ground one November at the OSU Experiment Station, near Aurora (south of Portland) I decided it wasn't a very good one - at least for this region. Otherwise, typical small spreading tree. Branches will get in the way if you don't plant it well back from the pavement.

I'd rather have 'Autumn Glory', that has large bright red haws that last a long time - although it is not loaded every year. Lavalle hawthorn is popular, being half Mexican hawthorn it has large, shiny, persistent leaves and large fruits. However, the tree tends to lean and the fruits may not hold up all that long some years.

What about crabapples? Have you thought about those? Much bigger selection, with new ones still coming out - including compact kinds that will fit in smaller spaces.

Here is a link that might be useful: Arthur Lee Jacobson - Plant of the Month - November 2002 - Ornamental Crabapples
botann
16 years ago
I would sure hate to be the one to prune them or park my car under them. Besides, they look 'sooty' all summer long.
The pruned branches don't fit in a truck very well either. Does this variety have thorns? Most are almost as long as a toothpick. Ouch! To me, they look bad more months of the year than they look good.
There are better choices as Bboy suggests, even Crabapples.
Related Discussions
How to tell a Winter King from a Washington Hawthorne
Q
Comments (8)
Named selection of Washington hawthorn will also be grafted. What a rootstock might be - if one is present - would be determined by the morphology of the suckers, same as with the scion (part grafted on top). 'Winter King' is a selection from Crategus viridis, with shorter, scattered thorns and other special characteristics. But comparting descriptions (and photos) of C. phaenopyrum and C. viridis should point you in the right direction - if your tree is either of those. Washington hawthorn is probably about the most distinctive of the bunch, starting with the maple-like leaves.
...See More
I have a new love
Q
Comments (47)
Yep. It does. I guess I should give it a time. I saw a website last week and got so shocked about reviews from people who bought that tree. It was called Royal Empress. However, digging the web more, found out that many people hated it. It was only nice during spring but after that, it's yucky. Well, I should not touch the backyard anymore. I'm still looking for a tree for front. I have been looking at different nurseries with all the trees you guys have listed. Today, I was at the route 176 nursery again. Hehehe. I saw the Gingko again. I really love the yellow color of it. I asked the tree guy if it's find if I planted it beside my driveway. He said, these gingkos can really grow that wide. You don't want it but before that happens it will take many years. I went to the other side of the street and looked at my house. I noticed that I have so many reds. I have 2 maples that are red. I have serviceberry that is red. I have red-twig dogwood whose branches are red. I guess, I should put contrast. That's why I thought of gingkos. However, gingkos are very slow growers. :) I might go back with CrabApple. Forgive me. :)
...See More
Hawthorn suggestions?
Q
Comments (11)
Victor and Arbordave, thanks for the replies. Next time I'm over at that shopping center I will try take a photo of the trees in question. That might help solve the mystery! I do recall that last year these hawthorns were literally covered in orange/reddish fruits, roughly 3/8" to 1/2" in size. There were so many fruits that the branches looked to be drooping. These trees did have thorns for sure, but not very many thorns. Some branches had none at all while others had several in the 2" to 3" range. I've read online that there are literally a thousand different hawthorn species due to crossbreeding, and that many arborists or local DNR workers can't tell them apart. Having said that, I'm sure I couldnt tell them apart! Winter King does seem to be one of the most popular hawthorns here in Michigan and probably one of the easiest to find as well. We have fairly tough conditions here (wind, summer droughts, cold snowy winters, etc.) so we'd want a hawthorn that did well in those conditions. It will be mulched and watered, but low maintenance is key. Also we have lots of deer so hopefully they don't like harthorns for breakfast! We'll take a look athe local garden centers in the next few weeks and see what we can find. Thanks everyone. Regards, Dave
...See More
Small airy tree for backyard birdwatching
Q
Comments (37)
As I mentioned just a few postings further back, I have in fact already a man-made perch at 7' height where birds line up to bathe/drink. I had more bird stuff included in previous postings but I subsequently edited most of the bird stuff out to focus on gardening. (Bird forums discuss bird stuff on an on-going basis, this gardening forum is the wrong forum to do that. Please don't ask why I want a living perch, it is in the original post.) You can't boldly prune a dense maple into an airy serviceberry either. I'd rather start with the best (most suitable) materials and work from there. Plans for next spring is "so far out in the future"? Sure, garden plans can change, but I can do nothing in the next 4 or 5 months anyway. Why not advance the plans?
...See More
Embothrium
16 years ago
"Sooty" sounds like 'Paul's Scarlet' and friends. Of those seen planted in numbers here cockspur hawthorn - note the name - has the oversize thorns, most others not so much.
botann
16 years ago
Yes, Paul's Scarlet is the one I'm familiar with, that and a white flowered one that has 'escaped'. Both difficult to deal with. Maybe I'm making the rash decision they all could be?
Embothrium
16 years ago
Yes: Crataegus monogyna is abundantly weedy here (and elsewhere), others haven't displayed this propensity (in this region).
Embothrium
16 years ago
The kind with solid masses of small fruits conspicuous around here at the moment is Washington hawthorn. Birds have just recently stripped one I planted on Camano Island (Island County, WA), but a row of them at a facility (substation?) west of I-5 (a bit south of the entrance to Plant Farm at Smokey Point) was still loaded today.

Here is a link that might be useful: phaenopyrum

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES 6 Branches and Berries to Spruce Up Holiday Decor

By Paintbox Garden

Bring garden cuttings in from the cold to warm up seasonal arrangements and decorate your home for the holidays

GARDENING GUIDES 6 Rockin’ Red Plants for Winter Gardens

By Paintbox Garden

Use the bright berries or branches of these cold-climate favorites for outdoor garden interest or container arrangements anywhere

INSPIRING GARDENS Native Plants Inspire and Educate at NYC's Botanical Garden

By Paintbox Garden

Stroll through the new Native Plant Garden with us to get great ideas for plant choices and sustainability

FALL GARDENING 6 Trees You'll Fall For

By Therese Ciesinski

Don’t put down that spade! Autumn is the perfect time for planting these trees

Sponsored

Buckeye Basements, Inc.

31 Reviews

Central Ohio's Basement Finishing ExpertsBest Of Houzz '13-'21

More Discussions

Gossler Farms Nursery visit...Embothrium purchase

7

Arctic blast - NW Edition

27

Helleborus 'Garnet Frills'

4

Time for Winter to Go!

5

My favorite plant, Easter 2024

4