Broad-leaved cockspur thorn

Broad-leaved cockspur thorn: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Small tree about 7 m tall and 8 m wide, with a broad, rounded and dense crown.

Leaves

Broadly oval to elliptic, glossy dark green, with a toothed edge; bright orange to red in autumn.

Thorns

It carries thorns on the branches; take care when planting and pruning.

Flowers

White flowers in clusters, in May and June.

Fruit

Large, bright red berries from autumn, often staying on the tree into winter.

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

Why grow it?

• White blossom in May and June, good for bees and other insects.
• Bright orange-red autumn colour, among the finest of the hawthorns.
• Large red berries that hang on into winter and feed birds.
• Dense, thorny crown that gives birds shelter and nesting sites.
• Tough and low-maintenance: tolerates wind, urban soil and pruning.

Broad-leaved cockspur thorn: where does it grow best?

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

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 -30 °C)

Goes well with

• Dog rose: Native shrub for a natural hedge, with rose hips for the birds.
• Red-barked dogwood: Red stems in winter, alongside the red hawthorn berries.
• Elder: Flowers after the hawthorn and gives birds berries in late summer.
• Daffodil: Flowers in spring beneath the still-bare tree.

Broad-leaved 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.
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, tie the trunk loosely and keep 6–8 m away from buildings and other trees.
5. Water in generously straight away, even if it is raining.
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. A mature tree usually manages on its own.

Feeding

Usually not needed. On poor soil, give a little compost 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: Give it an open, sunny spot: the autumn colour is brighter there and the berries look their best. Do not plant it where children play, as it has thorns.

Broad-leaved cockspur thorn: when to prune it?

Pruning months: January–February.

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

How:

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

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

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Grafting

Cultivars such as ‘Splendens’ are grafted by the nursery onto a hawthorn rootstock. At home this is tricky.

Seed

Seed from the berries has a long dormancy of one or two winters and does not always come true.

Broad-leaved cockspur thorn: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −30 °C.

• Fully hardy, down to about −30 °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.
• Aphids: On young shoots in May. Ladybirds and birds usually clear them; 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.
• 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: Bright 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?

• This hawthorn is closely related to the cockspur thorn, but its leaves are broader and resemble those of a plum tree, hence the name.
• Hawthorns belong to the rose family, like apples, pears and plums. That is why they can also suffer from fire blight.
• The red berries often stay on the tree into winter, when they are a welcome food source for birds.