'Winter king' green hawthorn (Crataegus viridis 'Winter King')
'Winter King' hawthorn is a small, tough tree that ranks among the best of the many hawthorn varieties for landscape use. Like the cockspur hawthorn, green hawthorn has thorns, but it grows to 20 to 30 feet tall and is rounded in habit. This tree develops a wide round to pyramidal crown and has persistent red fruits and multi-colored, flaky bark. It is used as a specimen plant in the landscape. White flowers appear in mid-May after the leaves emerge. Red fruits ripen in September and persist into the winter. Fall color can range from purple to deep red. The green hawthorn is a small ornamental flowering tree; its cultivar 'Winter King' is suggested for use. It is adaptable and suitable for planting in urban environments.