Flower profile

Common hawthorn

Crataegus monogyna

Common hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) is a shrub or small tree in the Rosaceae family, introduced in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–May across the U.S.

Introduced in the lower 48

Common hawthorn is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 2 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–May.

25states where USDA records it

2Bloomipedia state lists include it

4,817U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Oregon, Washington

🚫

Regulated invasive plant in Oregon and Washington. It's on those states' official invasive plant lists (Oregon: "B" noxious weed (sale and transport prohibited); Washington: Class C noxious weed). Please don't plant or share it there. ^{OAR 603-052-1200 WAC 16-750}

Quick look

Crataegus monogyna, known as common hawthorn, may tree, whitethorn, one-seed hawthorn, or single-seeded hawthorn, is a species of flowering plant in the rose family, Rosaceae. It grows to about 10 metres tall, producing hermaphrodite flowers in late spring. The berry-like pomes contain a stone-encased seed.
From Wikipedia's article Crataegus monogyna, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Rosaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub / a tree with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 25 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as not native to Oregon and Washington. ^NatureServe
In Oregon, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–May. ^iNaturalist
In Washington, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as purple. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as mid spring. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 20 ft. ^{USDA PLANTS}
iNaturalist has 2,114 research-grade sightings of it in Oregon, ranking #79 among the 184 flowers on our Oregon list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 1,976 research-grade sightings of it in Washington, ranking #100 among the 187 flowers on our Washington list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (1,104 records)

Bloom time in the 2 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it

State	Type	Peak bloom	Sightings*
Oregon	Introduced	April–May	2,114
Washington	Introduced	May	1,976

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: G5 Secure worldwide. ^NatureServe
Oregon: Not listed Not on Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Oregon. ^{OAR 603-073-0070}
Washington: No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Washington.
Rare elsewhere: No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNon-toxic to dogs, cats and horses

ASPCA's entry “Haws” (Crataegus species), which covers the whole genus, lists it as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Eating lots of any plant can still upset a pet's stomach. ^ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records common hawthorn in 25 states plus Washington, D.C.

AKMEVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILWIMINYRIMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTCAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alaska, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin; District of Columbia.

Oregon counties with USDA records: Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Crook, Douglas, Hood River, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Washington, Yamhill.

Washington counties with USDA records: Benton, Clark, King, Lewis, Pacific, Pend Oreille, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, Spokane, Thurston, Wahkiakum, Walla Walla.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Common hawthorn a high shade tolerance, high drought tolerance and medium moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 6.0 to 7.2 and winter lows down to -23 °F.

Shade tolerance: High
Drought tolerance: High
Moisture use: Medium
Soil textures it is adapted to: coarse, medium, fine
Soil pH range: 6.0 to 7.2
Minimum temperature tolerated: -23 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum): 120
Annual precipitation range: 24 to 60 inches
Minimum root depth: 24 inches
Salinity tolerance: None
Fertility requirement: Medium
Growth rate: Slow
Lifespan: Moderate
Active growth period: Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed: Red · Summer to Fall
Can be propagated by: bare root, container, cuttings, seed
Commercial availability: No Known Source

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for CRMO3. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Alaska: Introduced; Canada: Introduced; Lower 48 states: Introduced.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Crataegus oxyacantha.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 132 counties across 22 states; the most are in New York (23), Oregon (15), Washington (13).

Other Crataegus on Bloomipedia (4): Hawthorns, Parsley hawthorn, Black hawthorn, Green hawthorn.

More from the Rosaceae family (103 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Roses (genus Rosa), Multiflora rose, Mock strawberry, Black cherry, Toyon, Thimbleberry, Wineberry, Black raspberry.

More Oregon flowers

Thimbleberry

Rubus parviflorus

Native

🌼 Blooms in OR: May–June

Salmonberry

Rubus spectabilis

Native

🌼 Blooms in OR: March–May

Osoberry

Oemleria cerasiformis

Native

🌼 Blooms in OR: February–April

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile CRMO3.
iNaturalist, Crataegus monogyna: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Crataegus monogyna (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Oregon: Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070).
Oregon: Oregon noxious weed quarantine, A and B weeds (OAR 603-052-1200).
Washington: Washington State noxious weed list (WAC 16-750-005, -011, -015).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Crataegus monogyna (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: ASPCA.
Photo: Gavin Slater via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.