Crataegus mexicana aka Mexican Hawthorn

Crataegus mexicana, or Mexican thorn, belongs to the rose family. Its native range runs from Mexico south to Guatemala. It grows in open woodland and thickets in mountain regions. These sites include pine and oak woods. Garden plants reach about 13–26 feet [4–8 metres] tall and wide. Another account gives heights up to 30 feet [9 metres]. It forms a spreading tree or shrub with a rounded crown. Some plants grow into dense thickets.

The stems bear thorns, and the trunk can be short and thick. The dark green leaves shine and have teeth near their tips. Some leaves take on bronze tones during winter. Plants may keep much of their foliage in mild weather. Cold winters can leave the branches bare. White flowers grow in clusters in late spring. Midges pollinate them. Golden yellow fruit ripens in autumn and can last into winter. Each fruit can reach about 0.8 inches [2 centimetres] across.

Give this tree sun or partial shade. Full sun helps improve fruit crops and quality. It grows in sand, loam, chalk, and clay. Acid, neutral, and alkaline soils all suit it. Moist soil with good drainage is a sound choice. Useful Tropical Plants reports drought tolerance once roots become established. That source also reports tolerance of very moist ground. The RHS warns that it cannot cope with waterlogging. The RHS rates it H4, covering lows near 14–23°F [-10 to -5°C]. Growth is moderate, with maturity taking about 10–20 years.

The tree suits hedges, screens, coastal sites, and informal gardens. Flowers and fruit give it value in wildlife gardens. In Guatemala, growers sometimes use it as rootstock for apples and pears. People also string the fruit for holiday decorations. Its hard, tough wood serves for tool handles and mallets. The fruit has juicy, mealy flesh with a mild apple-like taste. People eat it raw or cooked, or dry it for storage. It also goes into jams, jellies, preserves, and drink flavourings. The RHS warns that seeds contain toxins and must be removed before eating. Its pet guidance says not to feed animals the fruit.

Pests may include aphids, caterpillars, and hawthorn button top midge. Diseases include fireblight, honey fungus, crown gall, and silver leaf. Powdery mildew and rust may also occur. Growers can raise plants from seed or use grafting. Seeds need cold treatment and may take 18 months to sprout.