Why Plant Winter King Hawthorn?
The name says it all—Winter King Hawthorn truly will be the King of your winter garden. Depending on the availability of other bird food, the orange-red berries of this mid-sized native tree may hang on clear through January. Then, pull up a chair by the window and watch the chickadees, blue jays, cardinals, and cedar waxwings dig in. Winter King Hawthorn (a.k.a. “Hawthorne”) is no slouch in other seasons, either. In spring, clusters of white blossoms settle on the branches like freshly fallen snow, emphasizing the distinctive horizontal branching habit provides a nice contrast to more upright trees in your landscape all year long.
This species hails from the Midwest and Southeast, where its hard, weather-resistant wood made it a good candidate for fence posts in days gone by. Many birds appreciate this tree, though they let us enjoy the orange-red berries all winter before they dig in. Maybe they need the frosts to soften them up. Some butterflies and moths raise their young on the foliage, and bees frequent the blossoms in spring. This selection, valued for its abundance of larger-than-normal fruits, was discovered by nurseryman Bob Simpson of Vincennes, Indiana in 1955.
How to use Winter King Hawthorn in the landscape?
Winter King Hawthorn is a tough, drought-resistant, cold-hardy tree. Its only persistent problem is its tendency to lose leaves in late summer due to a common leaf disease. This actually isn’t a bad thing, though, because by then the fruits are beginning to ripen, and the leaves just get in the way of the show!
Planting Zones
Hardiness Zones: 4-7
How To Plant Winter King Hawthorn
Winter King Hawthorn doesn’t need to be pampered and will make do with any planting site as long as it’s in full sun and has well-drained soil. This country hedgerow tree even does well in the heart of the city. Do protect the trunk from damage, as the pretty, silvery bark is thin, and string trimmers can wreak havoc.
How To Water
Water regularly after initial planting. Once established, they are more tolerant of drought conditions, reducing your hand-watering responsibilities.
How To Fertilize
During fall, feed your Winter King Bower & Branch Elements Fertilizer once a year for about the first 3 or 4 years - this will give your tree all the nutrients it needs.
How To Prune
Winter King Hawthorn rarely needs pruning, which is a good thing—there’s a reason it’s called a Haw-THORN! If you do need to prune, do so shortly after the tree blooms and proceed carefully.
How Does Shipping Work?
Bower & Branch Trees, the real BIG trees, don’t fit in a box! Our big trees, sizes XL and bigger, require expert delivery and care, that means our extra-large trees are shipped on Bower & Branch trucks. We are the only ones who know how to ship our big and bigger trees and plants with tender loving care. We deliver your trees and plants directly to you. Ask Bower & Branch about planting services – we'd be happy to assist in installation.
*For Big trees and Shrubs, Size XL and bigger: Review our Seasonal Shipping Timelines and Policy here.
Your trees and plants are grown across the United States at various Bower & Branch Growers. Depending on your location, your plant orders may be shipped from various locations. Please expect orders with multiple items to be delivered over a number of days as a result. Orders made up of numerous items or selections will not arrive at your home on the same day.
Shipping Delays:
From time to time, Bower & Branch Growers may determine to delay order shipment based on various factors for plant health. Weather in your region, as well as, where your plants are grown, is always considered when shipping. Extreme weather conditions may delay some or all of your order. Bower & Branch allows our Growers to make final shipping decisions based solely to benefit your trees and plants’ health and success.
How Does Sizing Work?
The size of our trees have nothing to do with the container size like you may find elsewhere–big doesn't mean just height - it’s also vigor, age, and overall health. Other online retailers are going to tell you that a plant is a seven gallon, that means nothing to your tree or plant (or you.)
Our trees for sale online are graded on large, x-large, and even bigger sizes. This is because our trees are sized by their age—the higher the letter, the more mature the tree. The age determines the trees’ overall height, size of the trunk and the overall branch density.
All of these characteristics are what you should be looking for when choosing a tree for immediate impact and instant curb appeal. Our extra-large tree and plant sizes are sure to wow you and your neighbors!
See the size guides below.
