Western Sand Cherry vs Black Hawthorn - TreeTime.ca

Western Sand Cherry vs Black Hawthorn

Prunus pumila var besseyi

Crataegus douglasii

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Western Sand Cherry
Black Hawthorn

Western Sand Cherry is known for its unique, leathery grey-green foliage and beautiful white blossoms. It is a popular ornamental shrub in parks and front yards. Both you and the wildlife will love its edible small dark red to purple cherries.

Due to its small stature and spreading qualities, Western Sandcherry is suitable as an underplanting or groundcover.

Many people graft plum and cherry varieties to Western Sand Cherry and use it as rootstock. It is also popular to graft hardy apricots to.

Black Hawthorn is a versatile plant that is native to wetlands and other areas with moist soils, but can also tolerate dry soils. This plant can be grown as a short shrub, or a tree reaching 30 feet tall.

Black Hawthorn is valued for erosion control and attracting pollinators. It also makes an attractive flowering ornamental that can be planted as a specimen or pruned as a hedge. It is commonly used in shelterbelts.

Western Sand Cherry Quick Facts

Black Hawthorn Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 3a
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Height: 8 m (25 ft)
Spread: 2.1 m (7 ft)
Spread: 5 m (15 ft)
Light: any
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: any
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Suckering: medium
Suckering: medium


Foliage: grey-green
Foliage: contains thorns
Fall colour: reddish-orange
Fall colour: yellow to red
Bark: brown to gray
Flowers: white
Flowers: white
Berries: small purple cherries
Berries: purplish-black pomes
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Other Names: crataegus columbiana, douglas hawthorn, douglas' thornapple