''Crataegus'' × ''lavalleei'', sometimes known as hybrid cockspurthorn or Lavallée's hawthorn, is a

hybrid Hybrid may refer to: Science * Hybrid (biology), an offspring resulting from cross-breeding ** Hybrid grape, grape varieties produced by cross-breeding two ''Vitis'' species ** Hybridity, the property of a hybrid plant which is a union of two dif ...

that arose between cultivated specimens of two

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

in the genus '' Crataegus'' (Hawthorn). It is an ornamental small tree with glossy dark green unlobed leaves that is used horticulturally. The female parent was '' C. mexicana'' (sometimes mistakenly called ''C. pubescens''), and the male parent is thought to be '' C. calpodendron'' Phipps, J.B., O’Kennon, R.J., Lance, R.W. (2003). ''Hawthorns and medlars''. Royal Horticultural Society, Cambridge, U.K. (which is sometimes mistakenly called ''C. crus-galli''). Carrière's hawthorn, ''C.'' × ''carrierei'' has the same parentage, and is therefore a synonym, i.e. the same species. There are minor differences between Lavallée's hawthorn and Carrière's hawthorn, and the latter is considered a separate

cultivar A cultivar is a type of cultivated plant that people have selected for desired traits and when propagated retain those traits. Methods used to propagate cultivars include: division, root and stem cuttings, offsets, grafting, tissue culture ...

, which is formally written as ''Crataegus'' 'Carrierei'. It has gained the

Royal Horticultural Society The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), founded in 1804 as the Horticultural Society of London, is the UK's leading gardening charity. The RHS promotes horticulture through its five gardens at Wisley (Surrey), Hyde Hall (Essex), Harlow Carr (Nor ...

's Award of Garden Merit. The leaves turn red before falling very late in the season. This cultivar is also characterised by almost thornless stems, and abundant orange berries which last long on the tree.

References

External links

USDA Plants Profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Crataegus lavalleei lavalleei Hybrid plants