Cockspur thorn

Cockspur thorn: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Small tree about 7 m tall and 8 m wide, with a broad, flat to rounded crown and often horizontally spreading branches.

Leaves

Obovate to spoon-shaped, 4–8 cm long, dark green and glossy, with a toothed edge; orange to red in autumn.

Thorns

Straight, sharp thorns from a few cm up to about 7 cm long on the branches; the thornless form has none.

Flowers

White flowers in loose clusters, in May and June.

Fruit

Round, dark red berries about 1 cm across, from autumn, often staying on the tree into winter.

Flowering: May–June · Plants: March–April and October–December · Pruning: January–February

Why grow it?

• Abundant white blossom in May and June: a source of nectar and pollen for bees and other insects.
• The red berries hang on into winter and feed birds.
• Glossy foliage with orange to red autumn colour.
• The dense, thorny crown gives birds safe shelter and nesting sites.
• Tough and undemanding: tolerates wind, urban soil and variable moisture.

Cockspur thorn: where does it grow best?

• Sun to partial shade; it flowers and colours best in full sun.
• Ordinary garden soil: sand, loam or clay, acid to chalky. It is not fussy.
• Normal to dry; it copes with dry spells but not permanently wet feet.
• Tolerates wind and city air well.
• Allow 7–8 m of space, as it grows wider than tall. Do not plant it beside a narrow path or play area because of the thorns.

Light

Sun and partial shade

Soil type

Sand, loam or clay

Acidity

Not fussy

Moisture

Dry or normal

Size

7 m tall, 8 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -35 °C)

Goes well with

• Dog rose: Native shrub that fits the same hedgerow and provides rose hips for birds.
• Red-barked dogwood: Red stems in winter and berries for birds, alongside the red hawthorn berries.
• Elder: Flowers after the hawthorn and gives birds berries in late summer.
• Snowdrop: Flowers beneath the still-bare tree, before it comes into leaf.

Cockspur thorn: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–April and October–December.

1. Plant in March–April or from October to December, when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged.
2. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep. Loosen the sides so the roots can spread easily.
3. Set the tree at the same depth as it stood in its pot or root ball: the root collar stays at soil level.
4. Fit a tree stake and tie the trunk loosely with a tree tie. Keep 6–8 m away from buildings and other trees.
5. Water in generously straight away, even if it is raining, so the soil settles firmly around the roots.
6. Spread a 5–8 cm layer of leaf mould or wood chips around the tree, keeping it clear of the trunk.

Care

Water

In the first two years, water generously every week in dry spells. After that it usually manages on its own.

Feeding

Usually not needed. On poor soil, give a little compost or organic fertiliser in March.

Mulching

A layer of leaf mould or wood chips keeps the soil moist and suppresses weeds.

Support

Keep the stake for the first 2–3 years and check the tie so it does not cut into the bark.

Grass and weeds

Keep a circle of about 1 m around the trunk free of grass so the young tree has no competition.

Tip: Leave the red berries on in winter: they decorate the garden and feed the birds. Choose the thornless form if children play in the garden.

Cockspur thorn: when to prune it?

Pruning months: January–February.

When: In January–February, in frost-free weather, while the tree is dormant. Otherwise it needs little pruning.

How:

• Remove dead, broken and crossing branches.
• Take out suckers and shoots along the trunk.
• Shorten overlong side branches to keep the shape; it tolerates pruning well.
• Clear away the cuttings straight away: the thorns stay sharp for a long time.

Caution: Wear sturdy gloves and safety glasses: the thorns are long and sharp and can cause deep wounds.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Seed

The seed has a long dormancy. Collect the stones in autumn, overwinter them in damp sand and sow them outdoors. Germination can take one or two winters.

Grafting

Selections and the thornless form are grafted onto a rootstock. This is a job for the nursery; at home it is tricky.

Cockspur thorn: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −35 °C.

• Fully hardy, down to about −35 °C: no protection needed in Belgium.
• Leave the berries on: they decorate the tree and feed birds in winter.
• On young trees, check after a storm that the stake and tie are still secure.

Diseases and pests

• Fire blight: Branches and flowers look scorched and young shoot tips bend over like a shepherd’s crook. Cut affected branches back well into healthy wood and disinfect your secateurs. If in doubt, ask a tree surgeon for advice.
• Powdery mildew: White powder on young leaves and shoots. Cut off affected shoots and keep the crown open.
• Leaf spot: Brown to black spots and early leaf fall. Clear away fallen leaves and remove affected twigs.
• Aphids and caterpillars: Locally on young shoots in May. Let ladybirds and birds do their job; otherwise rinse them off with water.

Through the year

• January: Prune if needed in frost-free weather.
• February: Prune: remove dead and crossing branches.
• March: Planting can start again. Check the stake and tie.
• April: Plant. Mulch and water.
• May: Flowering begins. Watch for fire blight and aphids.
• June: Flowering. Water young trees in dry weather.
• July: Water young trees in dry weather.
• September: The berries turn red.
• October: Orange to red autumn colour. Plant.
• November: Plant. Leave the berries for the birds.
• December: Plant in frost-free weather.

Good for wildlife

Bees

Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

Birds

Berries, seeds or insects as food, or a place to nest.

Did you know?

• The species name crus-galli is Latin for cockspur and refers to the long, sharp thorns.
• Hawthorns belong to the rose family, like apples, pears and roses. That is why they can also suffer from fire blight.
• The genus name Crataegus comes from the Greek kratos (strength) and akis (sharp), a reference to the thorns.