Columbia Hawthorn

Columbia hawthorn (Crataegus columbiana, Rosaceae) is a native deciduous tree found in meadows and near streams, reaching about 20 feet tall. It can form thickets. White flowers with 2 to 4 styles appear in clusters in spring, followed by dark red, somewhat hairy fruit.

Columbia hawthorn grows in full sun to part shade on wet-tolerant soils (pH 4.5 to 8.5) with high water needs, hardy in Zones 5a to 8b. Disease pressure is significant, with 7 documented associations including scab, rust, leaf spot, fire blight, canker, and powdery mildew. Pest associations are extensive (14 documented), including spider mite, hawthorn aphid, pear slug, and tent caterpillar. The fruit is edible and supports wildlife. No cultivars are documented.