Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

May haw, apple haw

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Crataegus aestivalis

Family:

Rosaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

25-30 ft tall by 35-40 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

red

Phenology:

deciduous

Noted For:

Showy Flowers

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Specimen plant or wildlife planting for moist areas. Screen plant. Suggested by IFAS as a median planting or buffer planting for roadways.

Considerations:

Availability:

Native Nurseries, Seed

Propagation:

Seed. Sow fresh but may require a year or more to sprout.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Coming Soon!

Stays wet ---to--- Not wet but not extremely dry

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Clay, Loam

Soil pH:

Adaptable

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Caterpillars

Larval food for hummingbird clearwing ( Hemaris thysbe )and blinded sphinx ( Paonias excaecata ).





Attracts pollinators, especially important for native bees.

Apparently less interesting as a wildlife food tree than some other haws. 

Native Habitats:

In and near pools and small ponds, floodplains, swamps, especially where water stands much of the time.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

The various sources have conflicting opinions on the fruit and its uses.