Downy hawthorn is tough and easy to grow. The tree is quite adaptable to a wide range of soil types and growing conditions and is very drought tolerant when established.

Sometimes called red haw, the tree is low-branching, wide spreading and rounded reaching up to 20’ tall and wide.

Hawthorns are especially important trees for wildlife as their fruit is eaten by many birds, and their tangle of thorny branches often provides good cover to birds seeking shelter.

The double serrated leaves are often afflicted with various blights, scabs, and rusts which can cause their defoliation by mid to late summer. This defoliation is thought to be harmless to the tree and actually helps reveal the ornamental red fruits in late season.

Great examples exist across the region, including several nice specimens on the grounds of the Wyoming State Capitol in Cheyenne and at the nearby High Plains Arboretum, which attests to this tree's adaptability.