DESCRIPTION: The hardiest of the ornamental hawthorns, the perfect accent for small home landscapes; smothered in pink flowers in spring followed by showy red berries in fall, develops an interesting twisted trunk with time; thorns can be quite sharp.

BOTANICAL NAME: Crataegus mordenensis 'Toba'
AVERAGE HEIGHT: 5 Meters
AVERAGE SPREAD: 4 Meters
SUN EXPOSURE: Full sun to partial shade
FLOWER COLOUR: Pink
FLOWERING TIME: Late spring
FOLIAGE COLOUR: Dark green
COLD HARDINESS: Zone 3 ( Should survive upto -39.9° Celcius )
WATER NEEDS: Average to dry - Very well drained
OTHER FEATURES: Attracts Birds, Deer Resistant

Ornamental Features

Toba Hawthorn features showy clusters of white flowers with pink overtones held atop the branches in mid spring. It has forest green foliage throughout the season. The glossy lobed leaves do not develop any appreciable fall colour. The fruits are showy red pomes displayed from early to late fall. The rough gray bark adds an interesting dimension to the landscape.

Landscape Attributes

Toba Hawthorn is a deciduous tree with a more or less rounded form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Spiny

Toba Hawthorn is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Hedges/Screening

Planting & Growing

Toba Hawthorn will grow to be about 20 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 16 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 4 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more.

This tree does best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.