Plant of the Month: May

Crataegus laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlet’ Common name: The species is known as Midland hawthorn Family: Rosaceae Vital statistics Height and spread: Up to 8m (25ft) Form: Deciduous tree Soil: Grow in any except waterlogged soil. Aspect: Full sun or partial shade Hardiness: Fully hardy.

Crataegus laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlet’ @ Harlow Carr

Mature specimens of plants are located along the Streamside just opposite the Flower Trials area.

Crataegus

Genus of 200 or more species of usually spiny, deciduous sometimes semi-evergreen trees and shrubs occurring in woodland and scrub in N. temperate regions.  There are approximately 50 different species commonly cultivated in Britain.

The leaves are mid-dark green some species produce good autumn colour. White to deep pink flowers are borne in flat or rounded corymbs at the ends of short shoots. In autumn fruits are produced, these are mostly red but can also be black, yellow, or bluish green.

Hawthorns have a long season of interest and are extremely hardy. They are particularly good for exposed sites either town, coastal or garden.

The origin of the name Crataegus (Hawthorn) comes from the Greek kratos, meaning strength, an allusion to the hardness of the wood.

Crataegus laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlet’

Small spreading, rounded, thorny tree that is valued for its long season of interest.  It produces corymbs of flowers that are double and scarlet in colour during May.  Red ovoid fruit are produced soon afterwards.

The leaves are glossy green ovate three to five lobed and 5cm (2in) long.

It is a tree which is usually used as a specimen tree.

C. laevigata originates from North West  and Central Europe including the British Isles.  C. laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlet’ originated as a sport on the plant C. laevigata. ‘Rosea Flore Plena’ (double pink hawthorn) in a garden in Hertfordshire in 1858.  They have both been awarded the AGM. 

AGM

The RHS Floral B Committee awarded Crataegus laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlet’ an Award of Garden Merit and described it as: Small, rounded deciduous thorny tree with lobed, glossy leaves. Flowers fully double, light red.

Cultivation

The thorns are fully hardy and adaptable trees, good growers in industrial areas and wind swept exposed or coastal sites, tolerant of dryness and excessive wetness. Crataegus laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlet’ prefers to grow in heavy soils with some dappled shade.

Grow in any (except water logged soil) in full sun or partial shade.

To prune remove wayward or crossing shoots to maintain permanent, healthy framework in late winter or early spring.

The main problem is fireblight, but caterpillars, aphids, gall midges, honey fungus, rust and powdery mildew may give problems.

Propagation

Remove seed of species trees from flesh as soon as ripe and sow in seedbed or in containers in an open frame. Stratify and sow seed in a seedbed in spring. Germination may take 18 months.

Chip bud cultivars from mid-summer to early autumn, or graft in winter.