Green: Winter King Hawthorn
Crataegus viridis
Green: Winter King Hawthorn (Crataegus viridis) is a tree suited to the Colorado Front Range, rated "Recommended" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List. It matures to about 20–30 ft tall and 20–30 ft wide, needs low to medium water, and prefers full sun to partial shade. Preferred Hawthorn for CO.
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At a glance
- Rating
- Recommended
- Botanical name
- Crataegus viridis
- Variety / cultivar
- Green: Winter King
- Type
- Tree
- Mature size
- 20–30 ft tall and 20–30 ft wide
- Mature form
- Rounded
- Spacing / clearance
- ~30 ft of clearance
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4–8
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Lifespan
- Medium
- Fall color
- Orange, red
- Water needs
- low to medium water
- Sun
- Best in full sun; tolerates partial shade.
- Colorado native
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Soil
- clay, loam, sandy
- Soil pH
- 6.0–8.2
- Hail tolerance
- moderate
- Wind tolerance
- moderate
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
- Bloom color
- white
- Bloom time
- mid spring, late spring
- Pollinator value
- high
- Tolerates
- Hellstrips / parking strips
Wildlife & ecology
- Pollinator value
- high
- Deer
- Generally deer-resistant
Common problems on the Front Range
- Fireblight
- Cedar-hawthorn rust
These are general tendencies for this group of plants on the Front Range, not a diagnosis. Many are stress-driven and preventable with good siting and watering. For a specific plant or an active problem, consult a certified arborist or your local CSU Extension office.
Planting & establishment
Water deeply every 7–10 days through the first 2 summers. Winter water 1–2×/month October–March when soil is dry and unfrozen, winter desiccation is a top killer of newly-planted trees. Year 3: taper to 2×/month in summer, then rely on natural precipitation.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Green: Winter King Hawthorn good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, Green: Winter King Hawthorn is a well-suited tree for Colorado's Front Range, rated "Recommended" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List.
- How big does Green: Winter King Hawthorn get?
- It matures to about 20–30 ft tall and 20–30 ft wide.
- How much room does Green: Winter King Hawthorn need?
- Give Green: Winter King Hawthorn about 30 ft of clearance from buildings, fences, and other trees so the mature canopy isn't crowded.
- What shape does Green: Winter King Hawthorn grow into?
- Green: Winter King Hawthorn typically grows into a broad, rounded crown, the classic shade-tree silhouette. This is the species' usual mature form, named cultivars (columnar, weeping, or compact selections) can differ, so check the specific cultivar.
- Is Green: Winter King Hawthorn hardy on the Front Range?
- Green: Winter King Hawthorn is hardy in USDA 4–8. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b–6a, so it is well within range.
- How much water does Green: Winter King Hawthorn need?
- It needs low to medium water once established.
- How fast does Green: Winter King Hawthorn grow?
- Green: Winter King Hawthorn is a moderate-growing tree. Growth rate depends on water and site conditions on the Front Range.
- How long does Green: Winter King Hawthorn live?
- Green: Winter King Hawthorn has a moderate lifespan for a Front Range tree. Actual lifespan varies with site, water, and care.
- What color does Green: Winter King Hawthorn turn in fall?
- Green: Winter King Hawthorn turns orange and red in autumn. Fall color intensity varies with the season and site on the Front Range.
- Is Green: Winter King Hawthorn native to Colorado?
- No. It is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
- Is Green: Winter King Hawthorn deer-resistant?
- Green: Winter King Hawthorn is generally considered deer-resistant, though no plant is deer-proof when browse pressure is high.
- Is Green: Winter King Hawthorn prone to pests or disease on the Front Range?
- Green: Winter King Hawthorn can be affected by fireblight and other issues common to this group on the Front Range. These are general tendencies, not a diagnosis, many are stress-driven and preventable with good siting and watering. For a specific plant or an active problem, consult a certified arborist or CSU Extension.
