woodland shrub
Dotted hawthorn
Crataegus punctata
Also known as White Thorn, Dotted Haw
1 of 3Native to much of the USA and southern Canada
Southern New England to Ontario and Minnesota, south to Georgia mountains, Kentucky and eastern Iowa
- Light Full sun to shade Sun tolerance
- Moisture Dry to moist Moisture preference
- Zones 3–7 Cold to heat range
- Bloom May–Jun Flowering time
- Height up to 30 ft to 9.1 m
- Life cycle Perennial Annual to perennial
In the garden
A woodland shrub for sun through shade and dry to moist soil. At up to 30 ft, it needs room in shade gardens and woodland edges. It shrugs off drought once established. Hardy in USDA zones 3–7.
Growing conditions
Light
Full sun Partial shade Full shade
Moisture
Dry Moist Wet
Hardiness zones
Find your zone:
Full plant details
Where it grows
- Habitat
- WoodlandThe wild plant community it grows in.
- Native range
- Much of the USA and southern CanadaUnited States (25): CT, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, MI, MN, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV. Canada (3): NB, ON, QC. Where it grows wild on its own, by state and province.
- Native distribution
- Southern New England to Ontario and Minnesota, south to Georgia mountains, Kentucky and eastern IowaThe same native range, usually more exact than the state list, and often noting where it has spread beyond it.
Growing conditions
- Light
- Full sun to shadeHow much sun it takes, from full sun to full shade.
- Moisture
- Dry to moistThe soil dampness it prefers, from dry to wet.
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3–7 · Canadian 3–7The cold-to-heat climate range it survives.
- Soil
- VariableThe soils it grows in naturally.
- Soil texture
- Light to heavy (sandy to clay)The soil grade it prefers, from sand to clay.
- Soil pH
- Mildly acid to mildly alkalineThe acidity to alkalinity it tolerates (7 is neutral).
- Drought tolerance
- HighRelative to plants of the same type and region, inferred from where it grows, not a days-without-water figure.
- Lime (CaCO₃) tolerance
- HighHow well it copes with chalky, lime-rich soil.
Growth & form
- Height
- up to 30 ft (to 9.1 m)Typical mature height.
- Life cycle
- PerennialWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).
Flowers, foliage & fruit
- Type
- ShrubWhat kind of plant it is.
- Bloom
- May–JunWhen it flowers.
- Flower color
- White, Red, Pink, YellowThe bloom color, or colors.
- Fruit/Seeds
- PomeThe seed or fruit it sets after flowering.
- Toxicity
- None knownWhether any part is poisonous to people or pets.