Green Hawthorn, Southern Hawthorn                kra-TEE-gus VIR-i-dis

• Deciduous tree, 20-40 ft (6-12 m), rounded, dense, spreading branches, thorns thin, to 4 cm, sometimes unarmed, trunks often fluted.  Leaves simple, alternate, obovate-oblong, 2-6 cm long, serrate, terminal portion shallowly lobed, base wedge-shaped, dark green above; fall color purple and scarlet.  Flowers white, about 2 cm wide, 20 stamens with pale yellow anthers, 2-5 styles, 10-20 flowers per 5 cm cluster.  Fruit nearly globose, about 8 mm, bright red to orange, often 5 seeded, persists into winter.
• viridis: Latin, green
• Hardy to USDA Zone 4     Native range from Maryland, Virginia to Illinois, Iowa, Texas, and Florida.