{"product_id":"thornless-cockspur-hawthorn","title":"Thornless Cockspur Hawthorn","description":"\u003ch1\u003eA Thornless, Bird-Friendly Tree With Four Seasons of Beauty\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThornless Cockspur Hawthorn (\u003cem\u003eCrataegus crus-galli\u003c\/em\u003e var. \u003cem\u003einermis\u003c\/em\u003e) gives you everything gardeners love about hawthorn — clouds of white spring flowers, glossy red fruit that feeds birds straight through winter, and brilliant bronze-orange to scarlet fall color — without the wicked thorns that make most hawthorns hard to live with. Its distinctive horizontal branching creates a sculptural silhouette that looks striking even in the bare months, and it's one of the most disease-resistant hawthorns you can plant. Tough, adaptable, and hardy to zone 3, it's a North American native that thrives in our climate. Whether you're adding a flowering accent in Edina, a wildlife tree in Woodbury, or sculptural structure to a Plymouth yard, this hawthorn delivers all year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThornless Cockspur Hawthorn Plant Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAttribute\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDetail\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eCrataegus crus-galli\u003c\/em\u003e var. \u003cem\u003einermis\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eThornless Cockspur Hawthorn, Cockspur Thorn\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Height\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e15–25 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Width\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20–30 feet — wide, horizontally branched\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSun\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun (6+ hours) for the best flowering, fruit, and fall color\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate. Tolerant of dry spells once established; appreciates consistent moisture while young.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUSDA Zones\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–7 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a) — very hardy across the metro\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoil\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHighly adaptable. Tolerates Minnesota clay-loam, dry sites, and urban conditions.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFlowers\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWhite flat-topped flower clusters in late spring\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFruit\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGlossy red fruit that persists into winter — excellent food for songbirds\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFoliage\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeciduous — glossy dark green leaves turning bronze-orange to scarlet in fall\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eThorns\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNone — a thornless selection, unlike most hawthorns\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWinter Hardiness\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReliable to -40°F once established\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeer Resistance\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate — may be browsed; protect young trees in high-pressure yards\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThornless Cockspur Hawthorn Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSafe, Family-Friendly Flowering Tree\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBecause it's thornless, this hawthorn is a worry-free choice near patios, walkways, play areas, and lawns where a thorny variety would be a hazard. You get the spring flowers and fall color of a classic hawthorn in a tree that's actually pleasant to live with, ideal for a busy family yard in Maple Grove or Eden Prairie.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWildlife and Bird Gardens\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe glossy red fruit clings to the branches well into winter, providing a reliable food source for cedar waxwings, robins, and other songbirds when little else is available. It's a strong anchor for a wildlife-friendly or Lawns to Legumes-style planting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSculptural Specimen and Winter Structure\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe wide, horizontally tiered branching gives Thornless Cockspur Hawthorn a distinctive layered silhouette that's beautiful even when bare — making it a true four-season specimen in a front yard or garden bed in Edina or St. Louis Park.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Thornless Cockspur Hawthorn in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHawthorn is deciduous, so you have two good planting windows in the Twin Cities:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpring (late April–May)\u003c\/strong\u003e, once the ground has thawed, is excellent — the tree gets the full growing season to establish before its first winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFall (September–mid-October)\u003c\/strong\u003e also works well. Plant at least six weeks before the ground freezes so roots can settle in. Avoid mid-summer planting when heat stress is highest, and never plant into frozen ground.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant Thornless Cockspur Hawthorn\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDig wide, not deep — the hole should be 2–3 times the root ball width but only as deep as the ball itself. In heavy clay, dig even wider.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCheck drainage — if water pools in the hole, break through any clay hardpan or mound-plant slightly to keep roots out of standing water.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBackfill with the native soil mixed with 20–30% compost. Don't create a pure-compost \"container\" in clay.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSet the tree so the top of the root ball sits at or just above grade. Allow room for the wide 20–30 foot mature spread.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBuild a 3–4 inch water basin around the root zone to direct water to the roots; flatten it before winter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMulch with 2–3 inches of shredded bark or wood chips, kept 2 inches from the trunk, to conserve moisture and keep roots cool.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering Thornless Cockspur Hawthorn in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFirst Year Watering Schedule\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWeeks 1–2: water every 1–2 days, deep and slow. Month 1–2: every 3–4 days. Month 3 through fall: every 5–7 days during active growth, less when rainfall is adequate. Stop watering 2–3 weeks before the ground freezes in late October so the tree can harden off for winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAfter Year One\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEstablished Thornless Cockspur Hawthorn is quite tough and drought-tolerant, needing supplemental water mainly during extended dry spells (2+ weeks with no rain). Water deeply to 6–8 inches every 7–14 days during drought, and let natural rainfall do most of the work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill Thornless Cockspur Hawthorn survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes — it's hardy to about -40°F and very well adapted to our climate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it really thornless?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes — this is the variety \u003cem\u003einermis\u003c\/em\u003e, selected specifically for the absence of the long, sharp thorns typical of hawthorns. That makes it far safer and easier to use near patios, paths, and play areas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes the fruit attract birds?\u003c\/strong\u003e Very much so. The glossy red fruit holds on the branches into winter and is favored by cedar waxwings, robins, and other songbirds when natural food is scarce.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow wide does it get?\u003c\/strong\u003e Wider than it is tall — about 20–30 feet across at 15–25 feet high — with a handsome horizontal, tiered branching habit. Give it room to spread.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eShowy Mountain Ash\u003c\/strong\u003e — a native flowering tree with white blooms and bird-friendly orange-red berries.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEastern Redbud (Minnesota Strain)\u003c\/strong\u003e — a cold-hardy native small tree with vivid spring flowers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNannyberry Viburnum (Tree Form)\u003c\/strong\u003e — a native four-season small tree with berries that feed birds.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring Welcome Magnolia\u003c\/strong\u003e — an early-flowering small tree for cold-climate spring color.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- tt-enriched --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Many Thornless Cockspur Hawthorn Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a wide-spreading specimen tree, not a hedge plant. Use a single tree where it has room for its full 20–30 foot spread — about 15 feet of clearance from the house, driveway, or walks. For an informal wildlife grouping on a larger lot, plant 2–3 trees 25–30 feet on center so the layered, horizontal crowns just touch at maturity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThornless Cockspur Hawthorn Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e Flat-topped clusters of white flowers blanket the tiered branches in late spring, buzzing with pollinators.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e Glossy, dark green leaves stay clean and handsome — this is among the most disease-resistant hawthorns available.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e Foliage ignites in bronze-orange to scarlet while clusters of glossy red fruit ripen across the crown.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e Persistent red fruit feeds cedar waxwings and robins through the cold months, and the horizontal, sculptural branching reads beautifully against snow.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAt a Glance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✔ Pollinator-Friendly   ✔ Drought-Tolerant   ✔ Four-Season Interest\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant It With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/showy-mountain-ash\"\u003eShowy Mountain Ash\u003c\/a\u003e — a native flowering tree whose orange-red berries double the winter bird buffet.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/eastern-redbud-mn-strain\"\u003eEastern Redbud (MN Strain)\u003c\/a\u003e — vivid pink early-spring bloom that hands off to the hawthorn's white flowers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/nannyberry-viburnum-tree\"\u003eNannyberry Viburnum (Tree Form)\u003c\/a\u003e — a native small tree with its own bird-feeding berries and fall color.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/spring-welcome-magnolia\"\u003eSpring Welcome Magnolia\u003c\/a\u003e — opens the season weeks earlier for a long relay of small-tree bloom.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Thornless Cockspur Hawthorn Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChoose it if you want a four-season small tree in full sun — flowers, clean summer foliage, scarlet fall color, winter fruit and sculpture — on ordinary or even dry, urban soil, and you'd like the birds it brings. Not a fit for narrow spaces: it grows wider than tall (20–30 feet across), so a tight side yard calls for a columnar tree instead; and in heavy deer country, protect young trees the first few winters.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"1.5\"BB","offer_id":54260818379057,"sku":"GT-T1670","price":370.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"1.75\"BB","offer_id":54260818411825,"sku":"GT-T1680","price":425.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"2\"BB","offer_id":54260818444593,"sku":"GT-T1690","price":480.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/thornless-cockspur-hawthorn.jpg?v=1779426700","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/thornless-cockspur-hawthorn","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}