Winter King Hawthorn

Winter King is a widely planted selection of green hawthorn with a broad, vase-shaped crown, white spring flowers, and conspicuous orange-red fruit that can persist into winter. Its mature size varies among references, so allow a generous canopy rather than treating one published figure as a precise limit. ## Form and seasonal interest Oregon State University describes ‘Winter King’ at about 20–25 feet tall, with a spread somewhat greater than its height; the Morton Arboretum gives a broader 20–35-foot range for green hawthorn and notes the selection’s common use. The existing approximate 35-foot garden size is within that broader published range. White flowers appear in May, followed by orange-red fruit that may remain into winter unless birds eat it. The branches have few thorns compared with many hawthorns, but the tree should still be sited with ordinary clearance from walks. The species is listed for USDA Zone 4 by Oregon State, and the Morton Arboretum profile gives Zones 4–7. Consult [Oregon State University](https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/crataegus-viridis-winter-king) for the cultivar’s habit and bloom, and the [Morton Arboretum](https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/green-hawthorn/) for the broader size and hardiness context. ## Maintenance Choose a sunny, open location where the mature crown can spread. Prune selectively to remove dead or crossing wood and preserve the natural vase shape; avoid unnecessary shearing that would reduce flowering and fruiting.