Black Hawthorn vs White Fringe Tree - TreeTime.ca

Black Hawthorn vs White Fringe Tree

Crataegus douglasii

Chionanthus virginicus

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

Black Hawthorn
White Fringe Tree

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.

White Fringe Tree is known for its fringe-like white flowers. It can either grow as a small tree or a large multistemmed shrub. The White Fringe Tree has separate male and female plants. Both male and female flowers have white fringe-like petals, but the male flowers are longer and showier. The female flowers give way to clusters of dark blue to black berries. These berries are not edible for humans but attract birds and other wildlife.

The White Fringe Tree is tolerant of clay soils, saline soils, and air pollution but does not do well in prolonged dry conditions.

Black Hawthorn Quick Facts

White Fringe Tree Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 3a
Height: 8 m (25 ft)
Height: 5 m (15 ft)
Spread: 5 m (15 ft)
Spread: 5 m (15 ft)
Moisture: any
Moisture: normal, wet
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no
Fall colour: yellow to red
Berries: purplish-black pomes
Berries: blue to black
Flowers: white
Flowers: fragrant, white clusters
Bark: brown to gray
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: slow
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Suckering: medium
Suckering: medium




Other Names: crataegus columbiana, douglas hawthorn, douglas' thornapple
Other Names: american fringe tree, american fringetree, fringe tree, fringetree, north american fringe tree, white fringetree