Crataegus viridis 'Winter King' (Green Hawthorn)

Crataegus viridis 'Winter King' is a showy, disease resistance cultivar of green hawthorn, a small tree found through much of the American southeast and as far north as Pennsylvania. While green hawthorn is already noted for its attractive foliage and moderate disease resistance, the 'Winter King' cultivar greatly improves upon the parent species by way of increased disease resistance to many of the varied diseases that can affect hawthorns, as well as much showier fruit and flower production. In the spring, 'Winter King' produces dense clusters of beautiful white flowers which, over the course of the summer and fall, turn to large, orange-red fruits called haws. Green hawthorn haws are greatly prized among birds and other wildlife as fall and winter forage, and only add to the tree's excellent ecological appeal.

Beyond its attractive flowers and edible fruits, Crataegus viridis 'Winter King' is much prized as a specimen and hedge tree, due to its moderate size of 25-35' tall and wide, and its sweeping, lightly thorny branches. 'Winter King' grows best in full sun, but also tolerates part shade, and prefers dry to medium, well-drained soils. 'Winter King' green hawthorn can also tolerate drought and dry or heavy clay soils and, thanks to its thorns, is deer resistant.