Berks County Hawthorn: Pennsylvania’s Rare Native Treasure
Meet one of Pennsylvania’s most elusive native plants: the Berks County hawthorn (Crataegus bona). This perennial shrub is so rare that most gardeners will never encounter it in nurseries or garden centers—and for good reason. This fascinating hawthorn species represents one of nature’s most exclusive botanical treasures, found only in a tiny corner of the Keystone State.
What Makes This Hawthorn So Special?
The Berks County hawthorn is a multi-stemmed woody shrub that typically grows to less than 13-16 feet tall. Like other members of the hawthorn family, it’s a perennial that comes back year after year, developing a characteristic branching structure with several stems arising from near the ground.
What sets Crataegus bona apart isn’t just its growth habit—it’s its incredibly limited geographic distribution. This native species is found exclusively in Pennsylvania, making it one of the state’s botanical crown jewels.
Why You (Probably) Can’t Grow It
Here’s the thing about the Berks County hawthorn: it’s so rare that it’s essentially unavailable to home gardeners. This isn’t a plant you’ll find at your local nursery, and that’s actually a good thing for conservation reasons. Rare plants like this one need to be protected in their natural habitats rather than collected for private gardens.
The extreme rarity of this species means that:
- Seeds and plants are not commercially available
- Specific growing conditions are poorly understood
- Conservation efforts focus on protecting existing populations
- Disturbing wild populations would be ecologically irresponsible
Better Alternatives for Your Garden
While you can’t grow the Berks County hawthorn, Pennsylvania gardeners have access to other wonderful native hawthorn species that offer similar benefits:
- Downy Hawthorn (Crataegus mollis) – Features beautiful white flowers and red berries
- Black Hawthorn (Crataegus douglasii) – Excellent for wildlife and natural landscaping
- Common Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) – Though not native, it’s naturalized and widely available
These alternatives can provide the thorny beauty, spring flowers, and wildlife benefits that hawthorns are known for, while being much more suitable for home cultivation.
The Conservation Story
The Berks County hawthorn represents something precious in our increasingly homogenized landscape: a plant that exists nowhere else on Earth except in one small region of Pennsylvania. This level of endemism—when a species is found in only one specific location—makes every individual plant incredibly valuable from a conservation standpoint.
Rather than trying to grow this rare species, the best thing gardeners can do is:
- Support native plant conservation organizations
- Choose other native hawthorns for their landscapes
- Spread awareness about Pennsylvania’s unique botanical heritage
- Participate in local native plant society activities
What This Means for Your Garden
While the Berks County hawthorn isn’t destined for your backyard, its story reminds us why native plant gardening matters. Every region has its own special species—some common, some rare—that have evolved to thrive in local conditions and support local ecosystems.
By choosing native plants that are appropriate for cultivation, we can create gardens that honor our local botanical heritage while providing real benefits to wildlife and pollinators. Sometimes the most valuable plants are the ones we admire from afar and protect where they belong—in the wild.
So while you won’t be planting Crataegus bona anytime soon, you can still celebrate Pennsylvania’s incredible plant diversity by choosing other native species that will thrive in your garden and support your local ecosystem. After all, every native plant has its own story to tell!
