Species cockspur thorn
lime-green flowers and green leaves with green veins and midribs

cockspur thorn

Crataegus 'Vaughn'

The Crataegus 'Vaughn' or cockspur thorn is an amazing shrub for adding a touch of interest to any landscape. An evergreen, the shrub produces white, fragrant flowers in late spring that are perfect for attracting beneficial pollinators, such as bumblebees and butterflies. It's dense branching structure provides shelter for small wildlife as well. Its vibrant red berries make it an attractive addition to winter landscapes. With an impressive amount of disease resistance and a tolerance to drought, the cockspur thorn is ideal for many climates. It is both a beautiful and hardy plant, making it a great choice for gardens.

Cycle:

Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Hardwood Cuttings,Greenwood Cuttings,Layering Propagation,Grafting Propagation,Seed Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

4 - 7

Flowers:

White Flowers

Sun:

Full sun

Fruits:

green,yellow Fruits Ready In Fall

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

High

Maintenance:

Moderate

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Thorny:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

When it comes to watering your cockspur thorn (Crataegus 'Vaughn') plant, deep and thorough watering once a week is generally the best option. Make sure to water the soil completely, until you see it coming together in the form of big clumps. It is also important to allow the soil to dry out a bit between each watering, as the cockspur thorn prefers dry conditions. During periods of extreme heat, you may need to increase watering to twice a week, but make sure to allow some drying in between waterings. Try to avoid overwatering, as it is more likely to harm the plant than underwatering.

sunlight

Cockspur thorn (Crataegus 'Vaughn') is a flowering, deciduous shrub that typically grows to a mature height and spread of 8-10 feet. This plant is a popular choice for gardens due to its beautiful display of white and pink flowers in the spring and its dark green foliage in the summer. To ensure optimal growth for this species of plant, it should be placed in a spot with lots of direct sunlight. It is best to provide Cockspur Thorn with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day. Additionally, the plant should have some indirect light or filtered light for the remainder of the day.

pruning

The cockspur thorn (Crataegus 'Vaughn') typically grows best when pruned lightly in early spring and again in late summer. Start by removing any damaged, diseased, or dead branches, and thin out branches that cross each other, or that are growing too close together. Aim to create a rounded or vase-shaped silhouette with an open shape in the center, leaving the tallest branches in the center of the shrub. It is important to leave at least 1 third of the total height of the shrub and plan for long-term thinning if the shrub is pruned too severely. If desired, the shrub may also be pruned to form a hedge.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Cockspur thorn typically starts flowering in April.

Harvest Fruit

The harvesting season for Crataegus 'Vaughn' typically begins in late May and continues through July.

Harvest Fruit

The harvesting season for Crataegus 'Vaughn' typically begins in late May and continues through July.

Hardiness Map