|Hawthorn - Snowbird|
|Oval tree that has beautiful, fragrant, double white flowers and dark green leaves. Grows to 20 feet.|
|Botanical (latin) name:||Crataegus x mordenensis 'Snowbird'|
|Height 20 ft (6m)||Spread 12ft (4m)|
|Summer leaf color - green||Fall leaf colour - yellow|
|Berries red edible but sparse||Bark - Grey rough|
|Blossoms - copious white, May 20-June 1||Fragrance - subtle|
|Habit - Upright round||Placement - full sun or partial shade, no standing water|
|Why would you want this tree?||Feature tree for small yards|
f The Snowbird was developed by the Morden Research Station in 1967 as from the Toba Hawthorn. The "Snowbird" Hawthorne is narrower and hardier than "Toba" and has abundant, fragrant, double white flowers while those of the "Toba" are light pink. The flowers bloom in late May and are certainly a joy to behold.
Hawthorns provide food and shelter for many species of birds and mammals, and the flowers are important for many nectar-feeding insects and the larvae of a large number of butterfly species
The red fruit, sometimes known as a "haw or "Hawberries", is berry-like, but structurally a "pome"(apple). Haws are important for wildlife in winter, particularly thrushes and waxwings; these birds eat the haws and disperse the seeds in their droppings.
The one drawback to planting a hawthorn is the long thorns the branches, especially if pets or small children are present in the household. They thorny nature however makes them extremely effective as a hedge to keep out nosy neighbours.
Hawthorns flourish in well drained sandy loam and do very poorly in heavy clay soils or low areas of the yard where water accumulates in the spring or after a heavy rainfall.
The hawthorns require annual pruning to keep them vibrant from year to year.
Fascinating Foliage Facts:
On Manitoulin Island in in Lake Huron, Ontario Hawthorns are common there thanks to the island's alkaline soil. During the pioneer days, white settlers ate these fruits during the winter as the only remaining food supply. People born on the island are now called "haweaters".
|Price last updated on Feb 06, 2014||Listing of Ornamental_Trees|