Washington Hawthorn vs Bristly Black Currant - TreeTime.ca

Washington Hawthorn vs Bristly Black Currant

Crataegus phaenopyrum

Ribes lacustre

CUSTOM GROW

CUSTOM GROW

Washington Hawthorn
Bristly Black Currant

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.

Bristly Black Currant is a native deciduous shrub that grows in moist forests, swamps, and riparian areas. In summer, it produces clusters of dark purple to black berries that provide food for wildlife, while its reddish-purple flowers attract pollinators. The berries are technically edible and enjoyed by some, but many find them unpleasant and bitter.

Thriving in moist soils and shaded locations, Bristly Black Currant helps stabilize soil and supports diverse habitats. It is valuable for conservation plantings, wetland restoration, riparian buffers, and naturalization projects.

Note: When crushed, the berries are known to release an offensive odour.

Washington Hawthorn Quick Facts

Bristly Black Currant Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 3a
Height: 6 m (20 ft)
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 4 m (12 ft)
Spread: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: any
Moisture: normal, wet
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Growth form: upright to spreading, thicket-forming
Spreading: seeds - medium, layering - low
Suckering: none
Maintenance: medium


Toxicity: prickles may cause an allergic reaction
Fall colour: orange, scarlet or purple
Bark: reddish brown with prickles
Flowers: white flowers in spring
Flowers: small maroon-green clusters
Bloom time: spring to early summer
Berries: small, red
Berries: dark purple with hairs, edible
Flavor: tart, unpleasant
Harvest: mid to late summer
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no

In row spacing: 0.9 m (3 ft)

Between row spacing: 5 m (16 ft)
Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, YT, NT, PE
Other Names: washington thorn
Other Names: black gooseberry, black swamp gooseberry, bristly black gooseberry, bristly currant, bristly swamp currant, prickly currant