Frosted hawthorn facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Frosted hawthorn
Scientific classification
Genus:	Crataegus
Species:	pruinosa

The frosted hawthorn (scientific name: Crataegus pruinosa) is a type of hawthorn tree or shrub. It gets its name "frosted" because its leaves and young twigs can sometimes look like they're covered in a light frost. This plant grows naturally across a large area in the eastern United States and southern Canada.

What is a Frosted Hawthorn?

The frosted hawthorn is a small tree or a large shrub. It is part of the rose family, which also includes apples and strawberries! Like many hawthorns, it has thorns on its branches. These thorns help protect the plant from animals that might want to eat its leaves or fruit.

Where it Grows

You can find frosted hawthorn in many different places. It likes to grow in open woodlands, along the edges of forests, and in fields. It is common in the eastern parts of North America, from Canada down to the southern United States.

Leaves and Flowers

The leaves of the frosted hawthorn are usually oval-shaped with jagged edges. In the spring, the plant produces beautiful white flowers. These flowers grow in clusters and attract many insects, like bees, which help pollinate the plant.

The Fruit

After the flowers bloom, small, round fruits appear. These fruits are often red or reddish-purple when they are ripe. They look a bit like tiny apples. The inside of these fruits, called the pulp, is safe to eat. Some people enjoy eating them fresh, while others use them to make jellies or jams.

Different Types of Frosted Hawthorn

Scientists sometimes find it tricky to decide if all frosted hawthorns are exactly the same species. Because they grow over such a large area, there are many slightly different types. Some experts think these differences are big enough to call them separate species. Others believe they are just different varieties of the same plant. This is a common challenge for botanists, who are scientists who study plants!