Crataegus laevigata Rosea Flore Pleno - Hawthorn

Crataegus laevigata 'Rosea Flore Pleno' is a superb variety of ornamental hawthorn. In May-June, it is covered with deep pink double flowers. This small bush with a rounded crown rarely exceeds 6m (20ft) in height and 4m (13ft) in width. In autumn, shiny red fruits appear, which are highly decorative and beloved by birds. Resistant, hardy, and easy to grow, it will find its place in any garden, even small ones.

Crataegus laevigata, known as Wood Hawthorn, Flowering Thorn, and Wild Hawthorn, is a botanical species native to central and southern Europe where it grows in deciduous or mixed forests, in open woods, or even in open areas (meadows and fields). This ornamental plant is ideal for hedges. It belongs to the large Rosaceae family. It is a spiny bush with a long life span, which can reach 10m (33ft) in height and 6m (20ft) in width at maturity, with a bushy and dense habit. It has very hard wood.

'Rosea Flore Pleno' is an old cultivar dating back to the early 19th century, and holds the prestigious RHS Award of Garden Merit. This bush has a rounded crown and reaches about 6m (20ft) in height and 4m (13ft) in width. The bark of the trunk is grey-brown and scaly, and the short stems are spiny and dark purple. Its foliage is alternate and deciduous. It consists of simple leaves, 2 to 5cm (1 to 2in) long, with an oval shape and 3 to 5 toothed lobes. The leaves are glossy dark green, with a duller underside. In May-June, numerous highly fragrant double flowers of dark pink with white undersides appear, clustered in dense corymbs. In September-October, shiny red fruits called "haws" appear, with a diameter of about 1.5cm (1in). They are spherical in shape and are consumed by birds. The fruits of Crataegus laevigata have 2 or 3 styles (pistils) and therefore 2 or 3 stones in the fruit, unlike those of Crataegus monogyna, a species with which it is often confused, which only have one.

Crataegus laevigata 'Rosea Flore Pleno' adapts to any well-drained soil, even limestone, in a sunny or semi-shaded position. Not demanding and very hardy, it will be satisfied with a balance pruning in February. With its small stature, it will find a place in gardens of all sizes, either as a standalone plant or integrated into an informal or defensive hedge. Resistant to pollution and sea spray, it is an excellent choice for urban or coastal gardens.