Common Hawthorn vs Holmes' Hawthorn

Crataegus monogyna compared with Crataegus holmesiana

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Hawthorn	Holmes' Hawthorn
Kingdom same	Plantae (Plants)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum same	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class same	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order same	Rosales (Roses & Allies)	Rosales (Roses & Allies)
Family same	Rosaceae (Rose Family)	Rosaceae (Rose Family)
Genus same	Crataegus	Crataegus
Species	Crataegus monogyna	Crataegus holmesiana

Evolutionary Relationship

Common Hawthorn and Holmes' Hawthorn share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Crataegus.

Conservation Status

Common Hawthorn

LC — Least Concern

Holmes' Hawthorn

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Hawthorn	Holmes' Hawthorn
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Common Hawthorn

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (South Africa), Asia (India), Europe (9 countries), North America (Canada, United States), Oceania and the Pacific (Australia, New Zealand), and South America (Argentina, Chile, Colombia).

Holmes' Hawthorn

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Range

Distributed across Canada and United States.

Common Hawthorn

The common hawthorn, <em>Crataegus monogyna</em>, is a flowering shrub or small tree belonging to the family Rosaceae. This species has one of the widest distributions of any hawthorn, with its range encompassing Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, and South America, reflecting both its native Eurasian distribution and extensive introduction worldwide. <em>Crataegus monogyna</em> is typically found in hedgerows, woodland edges, scrubland, and disturbed habitats across a broad range of temperate climates. It is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating widespread and stable populations. The species produces white flowers in spring and small red berries, known as haws, in autumn, which provide important food resources for birds and other wildlife. No dietary information has been provided for this species. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 2 countries:

🇨🇦 Canada 🇺🇸 United States