Plant Data
Sheet
Crataegus douglasii Black hawthorn
Range
Climate, elevation
Lower elevations, 670-1645 m.
Habitat preferences
Dry
to moist areas, well-drained sandy or gravelly soil. Wetland, riparian and
upland sites. Also
steep slopes. Full
sun to part shade. Takes all exposures if there is enough soil moisture.
Plant strategy
type/successional stage
Understory
dominant. Most often understory in sites
dominated by ponderosa pine or cottonwood.
Thicket forming. Pure hawthorn stands have
understory of snowberry or chokecherry. Does not occur
normally on disturbed sites.
Associated species
Black cottonwood, Eastern cottonwood, quaking aspen, ponderosa pine,
snowberry, rose, and chokecherry.
May be collected as:
Seed or a savaged plant. Can also propagate through layering and rooting of suckers.
Collection restrictions or
guidelines
Number of seeds per fruit variable. Seeds ripen in July/August and are dispersed
in the fall. The seed is quickly taken
by birds so try to collect as soon as fruit ripens. If fruit persists, it can be pulled from the
tree. Otherwise, pick fruit from the
ground. It is best to extract fruit
immediately. To extract, macerate fruit
in water and let pulp float. If seeds
are not to be extracted from the fruit right away, spread the fruit in a single
layer to prevent excessive heating.
Seed germination
Cold stratification at 5C for 84-112 days. Some report better results with acid
scarification for 0.5 -3 hours before cold stratification. Acid scarification should not be done until
seeds have dried for a few weeks. Some
seeds may not germinate regardless of treatment. Germination rate is 50-80%.
Seed life
2-3
years in proper storage.
Recommended seed storage
conditions
Air-dry
and store at 5C.
Propagation recommendations
(plant seeds, vegetative parts, cuttings, etc.)
Sow
in early fall before the first frost.
Sow in trays containing ordinary soil.
Sow seeds thickly, some with not germinate until the second spring. Place trays in an unheated area. If seeds have been stored and pre-treated,
sow in spring.
Soil or medium requirements
No
inoculum necessary.
Installation form
Container plant grown from seed or a savaged plant. Plants quickly grow taproot and should be
moved to permanent location as quickly as possible. Seedlings should not be kept in a nursery for
longer than 1 year.
Recommended planting density
If
sowing directly outside, seed in rows 20-30 cm apart and cover with .6 cm soil.
Normal rate of growth or
spread; lifespan
Will grow 2 feet per year in the first few years. Will grow to a 20-30 foot
tree or a 10-foot shrub.
Sources cited
Leigh,
M. 1997. Grow Your Own Native Plant
Landscape.
Rose, R., Chachulski, C. and Huose, D. 1998. Propagation
of
Young,
J. and Young, C. 1992. Seeds of Woody Plants of
http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/shrub/cradou/index.html
Data compiled by Katie McGowan