Crataegus (yellow berries)

The yellow berried hawthorn is an ornamental Crataegus selected for its amber yellow fruit, which stays on the branches long after leaf fall and decorates the garden in autumn and early winter.

Characteristics
A small deciduous tree or large shrub, 4-6 m tall, with a rounded crown and thorny branches. The leaves are lobed and deep green with good autumn colour; in April and May it flowers abundantly with small, fragrant white blooms, followed by clusters of yellow berries.

Growing and care
A very tough plant, resistant to cold, drought and wind; it adapts to any soil, including poor and calcareous ones, as long as they are well drained. It needs full sun to fruit well. Care is minimal: prune in late winter only to thin the crown and remove dead wood.

Uses
Suited to defensive and mixed hedges, rural tree lines, wildlife gardens and use as a small flowering and ornamental fruiting tree; the fruit is an important food source for birds.