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Downy Hawthorn

Crataegus mollis

Downy hawthorn is the largest of the Midwestern hawthorns, with soft fuzzy leaves, broad clusters of white bloom, and unusually large red fruit relished by wildlife.

Family
Rosaceae
Type
tree
Lifespan
perennial
Height
20–40 ft
Spacing
20–35 ft apart
Light
sun
Soil moisture
moist, dry
Soil pH
neutral, alkaline
Bloom
April, May
Bloom colors
white
Wildlife value
pollinators, songbirds, butterflies, larval host
Caterpillar hosts
~168 butterfly & moth species
Landscape uses
specimen
Native states
AR, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MI, MN, MO, MS, NE, NY, OH, OK, TN, TX, WI