Re: Info on Hawthorn 'Winter King'

Bobbie wrote:
It has been highly recommended and I'd like to plant one
but my husband has had olfactory experiences with SOME hawthorn trees and
says that the flowers really stink and he refuses to have it in his yard.
I am hoping that the flowers on this particular cultivar do NOT stink, but
fear the worst. Advice please? Thanks! (I have Dirr's book and he mentions
that the cockspur hawthorn, Crataegus crusgalli, has "disagreeably
scented" flowers, but says nothing about the scent of C. viridis, 'Winter
King'.)

Hi Bobbi,

For several years I admired the Thornless Cockspur Hawthorne (Crataegus crusgalli var. inermis) in both tree and shrub form, but  I read and was told that the flowers stink (Dirr says "somewhat malodorous").   I decided to plant one anyway last summer, in my small front yard.  This spring when it was blooming (and looking lovely) I went out to see how close I had to be before I could smell it.  I had to walk right up to it and put my nose in the blossoms!  Yes, the flowers do stink a little,  but who cares, if you have to get that close to notice??  

I think Alex mentioned the diseases hawthornes are prone to get, and I read about them in Dirr's book too (fireblight, leaf blight and at least 9 species of rusts!, leaf spots, powdery mildews, scab, aphids, borers...on and on).  I was worried that the junipers in the neighborhood would cause cedar hawthorn rust problems.  Well, so far, the leaves are still a nice glossy green and the dark red fruits look very nice with them.  I'm glad I planted it...so far, anyway :)

Cindy Johnson
White Bear Lake, MN
zone 4a
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