Chinese Haw: An Asian Beauty Worth Considering for Your Garden
If you’re looking for a small ornamental tree that offers both spring flowers and colorful fall fruit, the Chinese haw (Crataegus pinnatifida) might just catch your eye. This charming member of the hawthorn family brings a touch of Asian elegance to gardens while providing some practical benefits along the way.
Getting to Know Chinese Haw
Also known as Chinese hawthorn, this delightful tree hails from Eastern Asia, particularly China and Korea. Unlike some of its native North American cousins, Chinese haw has carved out its own niche in the gardening world with its distinctive deeply lobed leaves and particularly large, bright red fruits that make quite the autumn statement.
What Makes Chinese Haw Special?
Chinese haw is like that friend who’s attractive in every season – it just keeps giving you reasons to appreciate it:
- Spring charm: Clusters of white flowers create a lovely display and attract bees and other pollinators
- Summer appeal: Attractive, deeply cut leaves provide nice texture and form
- Fall finale: Large, bright red fruits (about 1 inch across) steal the show and often persist into winter
- Manageable size: Typically grows 15-25 feet tall and wide, making it perfect for smaller gardens
Where Chinese Haw Thrives
This adaptable tree does well in USDA hardiness zones 4-8, making it suitable for a wide range of climates. Chinese haw prefers:
- Full sun to partial shade (though flowering and fruiting are best in full sun)
- Well-drained soil of almost any type
- Regular moisture, especially when young
- Protection from strong winds in exposed locations
Growing Chinese Haw Successfully
The good news is that Chinese haw isn’t particularly fussy once established. Here’s how to set it up for success:
Planting: Choose a location with good air circulation to prevent disease issues. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball but no deeper, and plant at the same depth it was growing in the container.
Care tips:
- Water regularly during the first few years until well-established
- Apply a 2-3 inch layer of mulch around the base, keeping it away from the trunk
- Prune in late winter to maintain shape and remove any dead or crossing branches
- Watch for fire blight, a bacterial disease that can affect hawthorns
Garden Design Ideas
Chinese haw works beautifully as:
- A specimen tree in smaller gardens
- Part of a mixed border with shrubs and perennials
- An edible landscape feature (the fruits are used in traditional Chinese medicine and cooking)
- A wildlife-friendly addition that provides food for birds
Things to Consider
While Chinese haw is generally well-behaved, there are a few things to keep in mind. Like other hawthorns, it has thorns (though not as prominent as some species), and the fruits can create some cleanup if they drop on patios or walkways. Since it’s not native to North America, you might also consider native alternatives like our native hawthorns (Crataegus mexicana or Crataegus douglasii) which provide similar benefits while supporting local ecosystems.
The Bottom Line
Chinese haw offers a lovely combination of ornamental value, manageable size, and relative ease of care. While it may not be native to our shores, it’s generally well-behaved and brings unique character to gardens where it’s suited. Whether you’re drawn to its spring flowers, interesting foliage, or showstopping fall fruit display, this Asian beauty can be a worthy addition to the right garden setting.
