Fauna
Plant · GBIF taxon 3014089

Green Hawthorn

Crataegus viridis

Also known as Southern Thorn, Greenhaw

Green hawthorn thrives along riverbanks, bottomlands, and floodplain edges throughout the southeastern United States, often anchoring moist soils in seasonally flooded lowlands. Clusters of small white five-petaled blossoms emerge abundantly in late spring, releasing a musky fragrance that draws bees, beetles, and flower flies. Smooth young bark matures into flaking, pale gray plates that reveal patches of warm orange underbark, while thorny branches provide secure nesting sanctuaries for native songbirds.

DeciduousFloweringRiparian
Green Hawthorn reference1 / 7
Licensed reference(c) Scott Zona, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Autotrophic (photosynthetic)
Predators
  • White-tailed Deer
  • Cedar Waxwing
  • American Robin
ThreatsRiparian clearing, drainage of bottomland wetlands, and severe fungal rust outbreaks
HabitatsRiver bottomlands, floodplain forests, stream margins, and damp pastures
Life span50–100 years
Classification
  1. OrderRosales
  2. FamilyRosaceae
  3. GenusCrataegus
  4. SpeciesCrataegus viridis
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Wild berries have toxic look-alikes; never eat based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
  • Bark identification: Look for mature trunks that flake away to reveal contrasting patches of pale cinnamon or orange inner bark.
  • Thorn awareness: Exercise care when examining branches or twigs, which occasionally carry slender, sharp thorns up to 2.5 centimeters long.
Related species
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?

Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.

Checking your Fauna account…