Albertville Hawthorn: A Rare Alabama Native Worth Knowing About
Meet the Albertville hawthorn (Crataegus mendosa), one of Alabama’s most elusive native shrubs. This perennial woody plant is so rare that most gardeners—even native plant enthusiasts—have likely never encountered it. But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth learning about!
What Makes This Hawthorn Special?
The Albertville hawthorn belongs to the diverse Crataegus genus, known for their thorny branches, clusters of white flowers, and small, colorful fruits. As a multi-stemmed shrub, it typically grows to heights of 13-16 feet, though it can occasionally reach taller heights or develop a more tree-like form under the right conditions.
What truly sets this species apart is its incredibly limited distribution. Unlike many native plants that span multiple states or regions, Crataegus mendosa calls only Alabama home, making it a true endemic treasure.
Geographic Distribution and Rarity
This hawthorn is found exclusively in Alabama, earning it the designation of a state endemic. Its conservation status of S2S3Q indicates that it’s quite rare and potentially vulnerable, though the Q designation suggests some taxonomic uncertainty that researchers are still working to resolve.
Should You Plant Albertville Hawthorn?
Here’s where things get tricky. While supporting native plants is always admirable, the extreme rarity of Albertville hawthorn means it’s likely not available through typical nursery channels. In fact, it’s so uncommon that detailed growing information simply isn’t available.
If you’re lucky enough to find this species available from a reputable native plant source, proceed with caution and responsibility:
- Only purchase from sources that can guarantee the plants were ethically propagated, not wild-collected
- Understand that you’d be participating in the conservation of a rare species
- Be prepared for limited growing guidance due to lack of cultivation experience
Better Native Alternatives
For most Alabama gardeners interested in native hawthorns, consider these more readily available and well-documented alternatives:
- Downy Hawthorn (Crataegus mollis) – Widely available with beautiful spring flowers and fall color
- Cockspur Hawthorn (Crataegus crus-galli) – Excellent wildlife value and distinctive horizontal branching
- Green Hawthorn (Crataegus viridis) – Smaller stature, perfect for residential landscapes
These alternatives offer the same general benefits you’d expect from hawthorns: spring flowers that attract pollinators, berries for wildlife, and thorny structure that provides nesting sites for birds.
Growing Conditions and Care
Since specific growing information for Albertville hawthorn isn’t well-documented, we can only make educated guesses based on other southeastern hawthorns. Most prefer:
- Full sun to partial shade
- Well-draining soil
- Moderate water once established
- Protection from strong winds when young
However, without cultivation experience specific to this species, success isn’t guaranteed.
The Bottom Line
While Crataegus mendosa represents an important part of Alabama’s botanical heritage, its rarity makes it more of a conservation concern than a garden plant for most of us. If conservation and native plant preservation excite you, consider supporting botanical gardens and conservation organizations working to study and protect rare species like this one.
For your own garden, stick with the more common native hawthorns that offer proven performance and readily available growing information. You’ll still be supporting local wildlife and preserving native plant heritage—just with species that won’t keep you up at night worrying about whether you’re caring for them properly!
Sometimes the best way to appreciate a rare plant is simply knowing it exists and supporting the efforts to keep it that way.
