There is a large brushy bush in my yard I never paid much attention to untill today. It was in flower and the flowers look exactly like apple blossoms. On closer inspection, there are a few thorns and a few of the leaves have the near the base seem to be shaped like hawthorns. It was field grafting day, so i top work a few branches with apple and pear.
My wife suggests you check out mock orange and see what you think.
The mock orange is simailar but not a match. For one thing, my shrub / tree’s flowers have five petals and if i recall correctly, are pink before they open
Here is a picture showing leaves at the base of the tree with hawthorn shaped leaves
My other theory is that it’s a prairie crabapple. That would explan why what used to be the only apple tree ( I thought) here set a ton of fruit
Hmm- that really is interesting. Almost looks like two different plants altogether, the leaves are so different!
It’ll be interesting to learn what others think. (In other words: “I don’t know”).
:-)M
Phil’s (@Chikn) phone or computer is acting up so he sent me these photos and ask me to post them. He says these are photos of his hawthorn. I’m sure he’ll come along to answer any questions you have- I’m just posting his photos.
Might be some kind of crabapple/ malus floribunda.
Hawthorns are often taller, with more spread, less blooms, sparse foliage, and with… thorns.
Could it be that it is half and half? By that I mean, it’s the rootstock of a crab that had another apple on top?
I’ve got one a few blocks away that has suckers from the rootstock nearly as large as the other part. This particular tree has two completely different bloom times, but if the grafted portion matched the rootstock it could give this appearance.
Matt, The tree pictured is wild, thorns on the more mature wood. You would not want to back into that tree!! Goats won’t even graze this. This is what I’ve called and been taught was Wild Hawthorn from Iowa State days in the mid 70’s.
Maybe it is a hawthorn!
It may have been the rootstock for something else at one point. I have no idea why you would plant the thing in the front yard. it is not impressive at all. Then again it may have just popped up like the other junk trees the former owner let get out of control. I will let you know if the apple or pear grafts take. I am now on the lookout for native fruit that could be used for rootstock.
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