Hawthorns are a diverse group of native small trees/large shrubs with bright, white flowers in spring and red berries in the fall. They are a confusing group (Genus Crataegus) to classify, and accurate species identification is often left to specialists. According to The Sibley Guide to Trees, botanists of 100 years past listed 1,100 species of Hawthorns in North America. In recent times, cooler heads have prevailed, and current thinking is somewhere in the neighborhood of 100 species.
Fortunately there are a few species of Hawthorns that are relatively easy to identify. One of these is the Parsley Hawthorn (Crataegus marshallii), named for its deeply cut leaves that resemble the leaves of parsley. The leaves are unique for a Hawthorn, and serve to separate it from its close relatives.
Crataegus marshallii
Leaves
Crataegus marshallii
Deeply Cut Leaves
Compare the leaves of the Parsley Hawthorn to several other Crataegus sp. Hawthorns found in the Falls Lake area and illustrated below.
Crataegus sp. Hawthorn
A Crataegus sp. Hawthorn
The Parsley Hawthorn is a tree of the Southeastern United States, and is primarily a Piedmont species in North Carolina, avoiding the Mountains and the Coastal Plain. It is a member of the Rose family (Rosaceae) and has plenty of thorns on its trunk and twigs.
Crataegus marshallii
Trunk
Crataegus marshallii
Twig Thorns
Buds are formed in late March to early April, and take several weeks to develop and bloom. As the blooms open, the striking pink-raspberry anthers stand out against the white petals.
Crataegus marshallii
Flower Buds
Crataegus marshallii
Flower Buds
Crataegus marshallii
Flower opening
Crataegus marshallii
Buds Opening
Into Bloom
The five-petaled white flowers bloom in corymbs, and usually have 2 styles and 15 to 20 stamens. As the anthers age, they change from the pink- raspberry color to black. Below is a corymb of flowers blooming with the typical parsley-like leaves in the background. The blooms are very small – less than an inch across.
Crataegus marshallii
Flowers in Corymbs
In the close photo below, the 2 green styles can be seen at the center, surrounded by the stamens.
Crataegus marshallii
Close View of Bloom
Below is the flower in profile with the two green styles visible among the stamens.
Crataegus marshallii
Close Profile of Flower
The Parsley Hawthorn seen blooming below is about 15 feet tall and lies in the outer flood plain of the Neuse River, along the Neuse River Trail. A red arrow points to the trunk of the tree. The foliage has grown reaching for more sun, which gives the tree an off-balance appearance. Most of the photographs above were taken from this tree.
Crataegus marshallii
Parsley Hawthorn
Herb Amyx
News from Rockcliff Farm 
Such beautiful photos of a shrub flower I can’t say I’ve seen or, at least, noticed. Thanks, Herb, for another timely botany lesson. This spring, I have seen pinxter flower shrubs blooming, as well as some kind of virbunum that I saw today on MST in Durham County. Still, I’ve not seen these hawthorns that you describe so well!
Herb, how very interesting. I have not seen the parsley hawthorn. where is it located? Thanks for your education and wonderful photography!
In the North Raleigh subdivision of Bedford, there is a paved green way trail that connects a paved parking area to the Neuse River Trail. This parking area is located at the end of Bedfordtown Dr, near the intersection of Bedfordtown Dr. with Grandview Heights Lane. The tree pictured in the last photograph is about 75 ft from the parking lot, on the left, very close to the trail. This area is only about 2 miles from the Falls Lake Dam.
Dear Herb, Our Garden Club of America club is nominating Crataegus marshallii for the Freeman Horticulture Medal. The nomination form requires 5 images with photography releases that grant the GCA the right to reproduce the photographs on their website and publications, limited to the publicity regarding the national medal and its presentation. Would you be willing to share any of your images for the nomination? I don’t any other way to contact you.
Certainly, you are welcome to whichever ones you would like. I will be contacting you via email to send you the photos.
do I need to trim my tree to make it bushy? my tree is about 3 yrs old very skinny and around 4ft tall
We are primarily familiar with native trees, which can be tall and skinny depending on sun and other trees crowding. Although some horticultural varieties have a naturally bushy spread, we are told that trimming skinny hawthorns is fine; they respond as most small trees/large shrubs do.
I have several species of hawthorn on my farm and I forage the leaves for making tea. I found a parsley haw but it did not have any thorns, so I am beginning to doubt my identification of the tree I found. Is it possible that it is just a parsley haw without thorns?
Several reliable sources indicate that Parsley Hawthorns may sometimes have thornless branches, so it is possible.
I live in Maryland, just outside of Washington,DC. I would like to plant a parley Hawthorne on my property. Will it do well in this locale?
The Parsley Hawthorne is a tree of the Southeast. Range maps show its northernmost range to be southern Virginia with no nativity in Maryland. Checking some of the cultivars that are sold in nurseries, the hardiness zones listed are usually 7 to 9. So, it might be risky.
The part of Maryland that Iive in includes Zone 7. The site I am considering is somewhat protected. Would love to hear any more thoughts you may have.
Yes, that makes a big difference and is probably a good predictor for success.