planting hawthorn seeds Douglas Hawthorn Seeds (Crataegus douglasii)

planting hawthorn seeds Douglas Hawthorn Seeds (Crataegus douglasii)Our native western (and Great Lakes region) hawthorn is a tree of exceptional uses! While the small black fruit is edible (in haw jelly, etc.), its high pectin content makes it especially useful for combining in preserves with other fruits. The hardness of the wood itself also makes this a useful little tree for various small timber crafts. Douglas hawthorn further excels as a wildlife tree supporting numerous pollinators, bird nesting cover, and food

Our native western (and Great Lakes region) hawthorn is a tree of exceptional uses! 

• While the small black fruit is edible (in haw jelly, etc.), its high pectin content makes it especially useful for combining in preserves with other fruits.
• The hardness of the wood itself also makes this a useful little tree for various small timber crafts.
• Douglas hawthorn further excels as a wildlife tree supporting numerous pollinators, bird nesting cover, and food for native butterfly and moth larva.
• And, it is a functional and useful grafting rootstock for apples and especially pears – allowing fruit to be grown in sites where fragile traditional fruit rootstocks do not thrive (including excessively drained and seasonally flooded soils). 

So why grow this lovely little thorn-tree from seed? 

Well, planted out in rows, it forms an exceptional hedgerow, especially when combined with roses, snowberries, and crabapples. Additionally, seed-grown plants also provide excellent grafting material when intended for fruit tree rootstock production. 

Douglas hawthorn seed generally grows best with cold-moist stratification, although we have some that have sprouted perfectly fine without any pre-treatment or cold exposure.

While this is not a fast-growing tree, it is exceptionally tough and able to withstand many abuses! It is cold hardy through about USDA zone 3 (e.g. central coast Alaska!), and achieves a mature height of around 25 to 30 feet. 

Approximately 50 Seeds (3.0 grams)