Washington Hawthorn
Full bloomCrataegus phaenopyrum
Rosaceae · broadleaf deciduous tree · introduced
Last updated
Washington hawthorn (Crataegus phaenopyrum, Rosaceae) is a deciduous tree native to the central United States from Missouri to Maryland and south to Louisiana and Florida. It reaches 15 to 30 feet tall with a spread of about 32 feet. It is the last hawthorn species to flower, producing delicate white blooms with pink anthers in June. Bright red, glossy fruit (6 to 8 millimeters, 3 to 5 nutlets per fruit) persists through winter. Fall color is orange to scarlet.
Washington hawthorn grows in full sun on moist soils (pH 4.3 to 7.0) with moderate water needs and a growth rate of moderate, hardy in Zones 3a to 8b. It reaches about 25 feet at 20 years and tolerates urban conditions. Disease and pest associations match the genus: 7 disease and 14 pest associations documented. No cultivars are documented. Its ornamental value comes from the combination of late bloom, persistent glossy fruit, and vivid fall color.
Plant Profile
Size & Form
Site Requirements
Ornamental Interest
Bloom Infection Window
Active Conidial Spread
Uredinial Stage (Summer)
Adult Flight
+ 3 more — see full disease and pest lists below
Diseases: Regionally Documented (6)
Pests: Regionally Documented (10)
Phenological Calendar
As of June 3, 2026, Puget Sound stations range from 2435.5 to 2672.8 GDD₃₂. Washington Hawthorn has passed full bloom (2485 GDD₃₂).
Regional Season Tracker
GDD₃₂ accumulation across 7 Puget Sound stations · as of Jun 3, 2026| Station | GDD₃₂ | Current Stage | Next | To Go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issaquah / East King | 2,673 | Full bloom | — | — |
| Kent / Auburn | 2,665 | Full bloom | — | — |
| Seattle / UW | 2,610 | Full bloom | — | — |
| Olympia / Tumwater | 2,570 | Full bloom | — | — |
| Tacoma / Puyallup | 2,535 | Full bloom | — | — |
| Bellingham / Whatcom | 2,533 | Full bloom | — | — |
| Sequim / Rain Shadow | 2,436 | Bloom start | Full bloom | 50 |
View full calendar (9 stages)
| Stage | GDD32 | Typical Window |
|---|---|---|
| Bloom start BBCH 61 | 2413 | Apr 1-Apr 30 |
| ● Full bloom BBCH 65 NOW | 2485 | — |
| Bud break BBCH 07 | — | Feb 15-Mar 15 |
| Leaf emergence BBCH 11 | — | Mar 1-Apr 1 |
| Bloom end / petal fall BBCH 69 | — | Apr 15-May 15 |
| Fruit/seed development BBCH 71 | — | Jun 1-Aug 31 |
| Fruit/seed maturity BBCH 85 | — | Sep 1-Nov 30 |
| Fall color / leaf senescence BBCH 93 | — | Oct 1-Nov 15 |
| Dormancy BBCH 97 | — | Nov 15-Feb 28 |
Sources: USDA Plants Database (seasonal estimate) ; OSU phenology catalog (OSU: weather.cfaes.osu.edu) About GDD₃₂ →
Season tracker for Kent / Auburn as of Jun 3, 2026. Predicted dates use 16-day weather forecast through Jun 19, 2026, then climate normals.