Tree Information

Common Name: pear hawthorn

Scientific Name: Crataegus calpodendron

Native/Naturalized: Native to Virginia

Database ID: 2349

Status: alive

National Champion: yes

Virginia Champion: yes

Circumference: 26 in.

Height: 17 ft.

Crown: 28 ft.

Points: 50

Date Last Measured: 2015

Last Measured by: Rod Simmons and Greg Zell

Date First Measured: 2015

Comments: Declared national champion in 2015. The tree is growing in a high-quality forested natural area and is completely healthy. My guess is that this old specimen has been happily thriving at this site for many decades. Pre-1950s when most of Arlington County and the western half of the City of Alexandria were heavily forested, pastured, and rural, there were probably more of these around, with extant ones like this all probably surviving relics from that time. Pear hawthorn is a state-tracked S1 (critically imperiled) species. Hawthorn expert Ron Lance checked the identification. This information is also provided to State Botanist John Townsend with Virginia DCR, Division of Natural Heritage, as well as the Virginia Botanical Associates to add to the Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora.

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