Black Hawthorn vs Bristly Black Currant - TreeTime.ca

Black Hawthorn vs Bristly Black Currant

Ribes lacustre

Crataegus douglasii

CUSTOM GROW

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Bristly Black Currant
Black Hawthorn

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.

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.

Bristly Black Currant Quick Facts

Black Hawthorn Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 3a
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Height: 8 m (25 ft)
Spread: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Spread: 5 m (15 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: any
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: medium
Maintenance: medium

Toxicity: prickles may cause an allergic reaction

Foliage: contains thorns
Fall colour: yellow to red
Bark: reddish brown with prickles
Bark: brown to gray
Flowers: small maroon-green clusters
Flowers: white
Bloom time: spring to early summer
Berries: dark purple with hairs, edible
Berries: purplish-black pomes
Flavor: tart, unpleasant
Harvest: mid to late summer
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, YT, NT, PE
Native to: AB, BC, SK, ON
Other Names: black gooseberry, black swamp gooseberry, bristly black gooseberry, bristly currant, bristly swamp currant, prickly currant
Other Names: crataegus columbiana, douglas hawthorn, douglas' thornapple