A year of flowers #23: Black hawthorn

Crataegus douglasii

 

Hawthorns seem to show up all over the place around here, spread by birds. This particular one started growing out in the prairie around 1993, and Jim Roberts, the neighborhood native plant sensei, said it looks like hawthorn, and he was right.  Since then several bird-planted Black hawthorns have shown up.  The thorns are nasty.  There are a couple of these growing in our front yard--the birds love the fruit and the protection--but I have learned that if you prune any branches, you must make sure you pick up every little bit.  I once stepped on a little bit in bare feet, and that was a special moment, I can tell you.