Common hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata 'Paul's Scarlet')
The common hawthorn is a widely cultivated and thus well-known large shrub or small tree. Its fruits add a beautiful, crimson color accent to house, park, or street trees even in autumn.

Growth form:
The cultivar has spreading side branches and a conical to rounded crown approximately 4 meters wide. Height varies between 4 and 8 meters, making it a good companion for trimmed boxwoods and yews. The bark of 'Paul's Scarlet' is gray-brown and fissured, with thin, sharp thorns.
Leaf and flower:
The fresh green summer dress, which is shed in the fall, consists of three to five glossy leaves that are slightly lighter on the underside. From May to June, the small tree is in full bloom, with numerous, densely filled, bright red flowers. This is precisely why the shrub is so popular. It is ideal as an eye-catcher or as a spatial boundary and privacy screen.

Site requirements/care measures:
This valuable plant is extremely robust and frost-hardy, but prefers a sunny location. This native shrub is also ideally suited to urban climates. The hawthorn has deep roots and prefers nutrient-rich, moderately dry to moist, slightly acidic to alkaline soils. Growing freely, it presents a very attractive display, which means it doesn't necessarily require much care. It also tolerates pruning, although this sometimes comes at the expense of its abundant blooms.
TEXT: Nora Kriegs
