Woody > Crataegus > Crataegus viridis > Crataegus viridis 'Winter King'
Crataegus viridis
'Winter King'
Winter King Green Hawthorn
Origin: The Green Hawthorn is found in the Eastern and Southern United States of America, distributed from Virginia to Texas and from Florida to Illinois. The cultivar ‘Winter King’ was introduced in 1955 by the Simpson Nursery Co. located in Vincennes, Indiana, United States of America.
Mike's
Opinion
"
A beautiful tree I have grown to admire. When in bloom, it is a rather showy specimen with clusters of white flowers. In autumn, the flowers disappear to show off its stunning red fruits. The bark exfoliates to show a variety of colour and texture which creates even more interest, particularly in winter. All around a breathtaking tree with year-round beauty.
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Rosaceae |
| Genus |
| Crataegus |
| Species |
| viridis |
| Cultivar |
| 'Winter King' |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Tree (evergreen) |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 4 - 7 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| 2a - 6a |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H5 - H7 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| (-32) - (-12) |
| Temperature (°F) |
| (-30) - 10 |
| Height |
| 7 - 10 m |
| Spread |
| 7 - 10 m |
Photographs
Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| Small, vase-shaped tree with dark green leaves, and clusters of white flowers that bloom in late spring. Red/orange fruit and exfoliating, colourful bark provides winter interest once the flowers have died off. |
| Landscape |
| It is pollution-tolerant, thus suitable for use as a specimen tree, screen, or hedge in urban landscapes. Can also be used in mass-planting. |
| Cultivation |
| Tolerant to most soils; however, it prefers well-drained soil and full sun. Minimal pruning is required, but if necessary, should take place in late winter or early spring. |
| Shape |
| Vase-shaped or rounded. |
| Growth |
| Medium |
| ID Characteristic |
| It is easily identifiable by its white clusters of flowers in the spring and bright red fruits in the winter. Serrated, dark green leaves are another distinguishing feature of this tree. |
| Pests |
| Fairly disease-resistant compared to other hawthorns, but still susceptible to cedar hawthorn rust and fire blight. |
| Habitat |
| Horticultural origin. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| Mature trees have silvery grey bark that is scaly and often exfoliates to reveal a copper underbark. The younger branches have more of a silver-green colouring. Unlike other hawthorns, the cultivar ‘Winter King’ has few thorns. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description |
| Buds are about 6 mm in size and rounded with reddish scales. |
| Leaf Description |
| Glossy, dark green leaves. Alternately arranged, ovate in shape, and doubly-serrated. Up to 5 cm in length. |
| Flower Description |
| Clusters of small, white, five-petaled flowers bloom in mid-May. Flowers are about 5 cm wide and grouped in corymbs. |
| Fruit Description |
| Round, fleshy, red/orange fruits are about 9.5 mm wide. Fruits appear in autumn and persist into winter. |
| Colour Description |
| Dark green leaves turn red or burgundy in autumn, while white flowers blooming in late spring turn into red/orange fruits. Both the flowers and leaves contrast against each other and the silver-grey bark. |
| Texture Description |
| Fissured, narrow scales on the trunk give it a medium texture. Stays consistent throughout the year. |
| Notable Specimens |
| The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois, United States of America. Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, Illinois, United States of America. Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, United States of America. |
| Propagation |
| This tree is propagated primarily by grafting onto seedling rootstock of either the straight species Green Hawthorn (Crataegus viridis) or Washington Hawthorn (Crataegus phaenopyrum). Budding onto seedling rootstock is another option. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses (Disclaimer) |
| The flowers, berries, and leaves of certain Crataegus species such as C. monogyna and C. laevigata have been used medicinally for centuries. Hawthorn flowers and leaves can be used to control palpitations, tachycardia, and nervousness (Nazhand et al., 2020) The berries are mostly used to protect against cardiovascular health, insomnia, and anxiety. |
top