Fauna
Plant

Dotted Hawthorn

Crataegus punctata

Also known as White Haw, Dotted Haw

Dotted hawthorn is a small, wide-spreading tree distinguished by its horizontal branching structure, long stout thorns, and pale spots dotted across its autumn fruit. Clusters of fragrant white five-petaled flowers blanket the canopy in late spring, attracting bees and other pollinators before giving way to red or yellow pomes. It thrives in open woods, abandoned pastures, and riverbanks across eastern North America, offering critical shelter and winter food for songbirds.

ThornsDeciduousNative Plant
Dotted Hawthorn reference1 / 7
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAutotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
  • Browsing deer
  • Cedar-apple rust fungus
  • Hawthorn leaf miner
ThreatsHabitat loss, fire suppression, and cedar-hawthorn rust fungus
HabitatsOpen woods, thickets, pastures, stream banks, and forest margins
Life span50–100 years
Classification
  1. OrderRosales
  2. FamilyRosaceae
  3. GenusCrataegus
  4. SpeciesCrataegus punctata
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. Mind sharp thorns.
Responsible observation
  • Watch for Thorns: Avoid reaching deep into the canopy without gloves, as thorns reach up to 7 cm long.
  • Check Fruit Surface: Look for distinct pale dots on the small, apple-like pomes in late summer to confirm ID.
  • Search Forest Margins: Look for flattened, umbrella-like canopy shapes along sunny woodland edges.
Related species
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