Habitat

• native to Quebec down through North Carolina
• hardy to zone 4

Habit and Form

• a deciduous tree
• 20' to 30' tall with an equal spread
• rounded, spreading crown
• horizontal branches
• slow growth rate
• medium texture

Summer Foliage

• alternate leaf arrangement
• simple, deciduous leaves
• obovate leaf shape
• 1" to 4" long
• sharp, serrated margins
• shiny, dark green leaf color

Autumn Foliage

• bronze-red to red fall color

Flowers

• small, white flowers
• 0.6" in diameter
• blooms in May
• only lasts a week
• born in large corymbs, 2" to 3"
• odorous

Fruit

• small, red pome
• clustered together
• matures in September
• persist through late fall

Bark

• grayish brown bark
• slender
• thorns along stems around 0.5" to 3" long

Culture

• transplant in Spring
• prefers well-drained soil
• soil tolerant
• pH adaptable
• full sun is best

Landscape Use

• specimen tree
• screen border

Liabilities

• thorns can be hazardous
• tends to have many pest problems similar to apple trees
• fireblight, aphids, scales, powdery mildew

ID Features

• 1.5" to 3" long thorns along stems
• a medium-sized deciduous tree
• 20' to 30' tall and wide
• broad, rounded tree
• simple ovate leaves
• sessile, rounded, reddish brown buds

Propagation

• by seed
• by cuttings

Cultivars/Varieties

var. inermis (may be the same as 'Cruzam' (Crusader®)) - A form that is similar to the species, but virtually thornless. Features early white blooms, abundant red fruit and attractive silver bark. Appears to be relatively disease-resistant.