Washington Hawthorn vs Chester Thornless Blackberry - TreeTime.ca

Washington Hawthorn vs Chester Thornless Blackberry

Rubus fruticosa Chester (Thornless)

Crataegus phaenopyrum

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

CUSTOM GROW

Chester Thornless Blackberry
Washington Hawthorn

Chester Thornless Blackberry is a self-pollinating fruit-bearing shrub. In mid-summer, the Chester Thornless Blackberry produces large, sweet-tasting, heart-shaped blackberries that are perfect for fresh eating. It is a semi-erect blackberry plant that requires little support from a trellis to keep its fruit off the ground. Don't forget to protect your berries. The birds love this shrub almost as much as you will.

Chester Thornless Blackberries are floricanes, primarily fruiting on second year canes. Each spring cut back all two-year old canes, leaving only the last year’s growth.

Washington Hawthorn is an attractive ornamental shrub that is dense enough to plant as a privacy screen. It produces clusters of white blooms in late spring to early summer.

Washington Hawthorn's red berries last throughout winter, bringing squirrels and birds to your property. In the fall, its foliage turns beautiful orange, scarlet, or purple.

One of the most overlooked trees on the prairies. This tree is often used as rootstock, a wildlife attractor, or a boulevard hedge. Give this one a second look.

This species is also known as one of the more salt-tolerant species for those with saline soils.

Please note: this plant is poisonous to dogs.

Chester Thornless Blackberry Quick Facts

Washington Hawthorn Quick Facts

Zone: 3b
Zone: 3a
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Height: 6 m (20 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Spread: 4 m (12 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: any
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: short
Life span: medium
Suckering: high
Suckering: none


Fall colour: orange, scarlet or purple
Flowers: pink
Flowers: white flowers in spring
Berries: heart shaped black
Berries: small, red
Firmness: firm
Harvest: July
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


In row spacing: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Between row spacing: 5 m (16 ft)
Other Names: chester blackberry, hardy blackberry
Other Names: washington thorn