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Crataegus phaenopyrum

Washington Hawthorn

Family RosaceaeGenus Crataegus

Bunches of bright red berries hanging from a bare gray branch against a deep blue sky, with a few withered leaves left.
FruitCillasCC BY-SA 4.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
TreeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
treePlants of the World Online
Height
25-30 ft7.6-9.1 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
20-25 ft6.1-7.6 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
WhitePLANTS Database
Blooms
Spring, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Native to the lower 48 statesPLANTS Database
Hardiness zones
4-8Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow RockyExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Moist, Very DryExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Watering
Drought tolerance: MediumPLANTS Database

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS.

Worth knowing

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around January 25, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Clean the flesh off the seed

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  5. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

Steps after step 2 run on after germination.

Germination happens during step 2, in 70 days.

51% germination in 28–70 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Crataegus p. 126Public domain
Show the original text
Crataegus (Rosaceae). C. phaenopyrum was collected in January and WC before sowing. Seeds germ. 70(6%)-40-70(50% in 4-8 d) and 40(51% in 4-10 w)-70-40-70 using fresh seed or seed DS 6 m at 70 or 40 or after DS 6 m at 70 in the dried fruit. GA-3 had no effect. An inhibitor system is being destroyed at 40, but a prior 3 m at 70 appears to inhibit this process.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Crataegus p. 126. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 30, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 29, 2026.

  1. Clean the flesh off the seed

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    6 germinated in this phase.

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  4. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

about 6 months from start to step 4. Germination happens during step 4, in 8 days.

50% germination in 4–8 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Crataegus p. 126Public domain
Show the original text
Crataegus (Rosaceae). C. phaenopyrum was collected in January and WC before sowing. Seeds germ. 70(6%)-40-70(50% in 4-8 d) and 40(51% in 4-10 w)-70-40-70 using fresh seed or seed DS 6 m at 70 or 40 or after DS 6 m at 70 in the dried fruit. GA-3 had no effect. An inhibitor system is being destroyed at 40, but a prior 3 m at 70 appears to inhibit this process.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Crataegus p. 126. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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