Lavalle Hawthorn

Although not used as much as it could be used, I consider the Lavalle Hawthorn, Crataegus x lavallei, another almost bullet-proof street or landscape tree. The leaves are 2 to 4 inches long and 1 to 1½ inches wide and develop into a shiny, lustrous dark green color, almost appearing evergreen into a mild winter. The flowers are white and showy in spring followed by bronzy to coppery red colors in fall. Fruit it brick red to orange from ½ inch to ¾ inch diameter. They ripen in November and I just noticed the fruit falling off the tree during this late February. Disease or insects do not appear to cause any problems.

Narrow and vigorous in its youth, it begins to widen in form after establishment. This is also another great power line tree. Ultimate height is around 25 feet and width closer to 20, although in excellent growing conditions, can get a little taller and wider. The form is dense and
oval-headed and can be perfect, or not so perfect, in shape.
A little corrective pruning can help.

The existence of thorns is typically light, but interesting in appearance. I notice more thorns on trees under stress or a tree growing on a poor site. On our nursery trees in good soils and drip irrigation, we see almost no thorns. Older, well-established trees show the same thornless trend. Maybe they are like people. Treat them right and they won’t get thorny.

Older well-established Lavalle Hawthorn trees can develop significant form and structure. This variety develops a character and strength that you hope for, but is sometimes rare in a smaller stature tree. Some of the limbs can take unusual turns and with age become very interesting. The wood is very strong so storm damage is rare.

Hawthorn roots do not appear to be aggressive, so are sidewalk friendly and I suspect the trees are relatively long-lived. This is a sleeper variety that should be used in more sites where you can tolerate a late winter fruit drop if the birds don’t get there first.