Pear Hawthorn
Crataegus calpodendron
Found in mixed hardwood forests, open slopes, wooded ravines, streamsides, especially over basic or calcareous rocks. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Northern Tier edition What its natural habitat tells you
Native to Virginia. How scores work Is it native here?
Profile 88%
- Height
- Up to about 20 feet
- Light
- Partial shade, Full shade, Full sun
- Soil moisture
- Dry to moist
No photograph yet. Looking for an old drawing…
Rare or protected plant. Specialist conservation planting; excluded from routine garden suggestions. Plant caution source
Hidden from default planting suggestions. Wildlife value and native status remain unchanged.
At a glance
- Life cycle
- Perennial
- Bloom
- May to June
- Fruiting season
- September to October
Not yet recorded · Spread · Leaves
Recorded in 12 Virginia counties.
Natural habitats
Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

Streams, rivers and their banks

Forest or woodland where the source does not say how moist or dry.
Also found with this plant
Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in Virginia. Shared habitat, not food. 118 animals.
- Brown CreeperCerthia americana
- Brown ThrasherToxostoma rufum
- Brown-headed CowbirdMolothrus ater
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis
- Carolina ChickadeePoecile carolinensis
- Carolina WrenThryothorus ludovicianus
- Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorum
- Cerulean WarblerDendroica cerulea
- Chimney SwiftChaetura pelagica
- Chipping SparrowSpizella passerina
- Cliff SwallowPetrochelidon pyrrhonota
- Common GrackleQuiscalus quiscula
- Common NighthawkChordeiles minor
- Common RavenCorvus corax
- Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichas
- Cooper's HawkAccipiter cooperii
- Double-crested CormorantPhalacrocorax auritus
- Downy WoodpeckerPicoides pubescens
- Eastern KingbirdTyrannus tyrannus
- Eastern PhoebeSayornis phoebe
- Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asio
- Eastern TowheePipilo erythrophthalmus
- Eastern Wood-peweeContopus virens
- Eurasian Collared-doveStreptopelia decaocto
Who uses this plant?
140CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including VA
Genus host records with ranges including VA · Crataegus
- Hemaris thysbeHummingbird Clearwing
- Limenitis arthemisRed-spotted Purple
- Acleris nivisellanaApple Leaf Twister, Snowy-Shouldered Acleris
- Acrobasis indigenellaLeaf Crumpler
- Acronicta americanaAmerican Dagger
- Acronicta clarescensClear Dagger
- Acronicta fragilisFragile Dagger
- Acronicta funeralisFunerary Dagger, Paddle Caterpillar
- Acronicta impletaYellow-Haired Dagger
- Acronicta interruptaInterrupted Dagger
Show all 140
- Acronicta radcliffeiRadcliffe's Dagger
- Acronicta superansSplendid Dagger, Chieftain Dagger
- Alsophila pometariaFall Cankerworm Moth
- Amorbia humerosanaWhite-Lined Leafroller Moth
- Amphipyra pyramidoidesMiranda Underwing, Copper Underwing, Copper Amphipyra
- Anavitrinella pampinariaCommon Gray, Cranberry Spanworm
- Ancylis fuscocilianaSpider-Web Leaffolder
- Ancylis nubeculanaApple Leaf Folder, Little Cloud Ancylis
- Antheraea polyphemusPolyphemus Moth
- Archips argyrospilaFruit-Tree Leafroller Moth
- Archips cerasivoranaCherry Tent Caterpillar, Cherry Worm, Ugly Nest Caterpillar
- Archips griseaGray Archips
- Argyrostrotis anilisShort-Lined Chocolate
- Automeris ioIo Moth
- Balsa labeculaWhite-Blotched Balsa
- Balsa tristrigellaThree-Lined Balsa
- Biston betulariaSalt-and-Pepper Geometer, Cleft-Headed Looper
- Carposina fernaldanaCurrant Fruitworm Moth
- Catastega aceriellaMaple Trumpet Skeletonizer
- Catocala alabamaeAlabama Underwing, [Titan Underwing]
- Catocala blandulaCharming Underwing
- Catocala clintoniiClinton's Underwing
- Catocala crataegiHawthorne Underwing, Thorn Underwing
- Catocala dulciolaSweet Underwing
- Catocala gryneaWoody Underwing
- Catocala miraWonderful Underwing
- Catocala mirandaMiranda Underwing
- Catocala praeclaraPraeclara Underwing, Chokeberry Underwing, Charlotte's Underwing
- Catocala pretiosaPrecious Underwing, Texarkana Underwing
- Catocala ultroniaUltronia Underwing
- Cecrita guttivittaMaple Prominent, Saddled Prominent
- Cenopis diluticostanaSpring Dead-Leaf Roller Moth, Oak Cenopis
- Ceratomia undulosaWaved Sphinx
- Cerma cerinthaTufted Bird-Dropping Moth, Cherry Agate
- Cerma coraThe Agate
- Choristoneura rosaceanaOblique-Banded Leafroller Moth, Rosaceous Leaf Roller
- Coelodasys unicornisUnicorn Caterpillar Moth
- Coptotriche malifoliellaApple Leaf Trumpet Miner Moth
- Dasychira vagansVariable Tussock Moth
- Datana ministraYellow-Necked Caterpillar Moth
- Dysstroma citrataDark Marbled Carpet
- Eacles imperialisImperial Moth, Imperial Spiny Caterpillar
- Ennomos magnariaMaple Spanworm Moth, Notchwing Geometer
- Ennomos subsignariaElm Spanworm Moth
- Epirrita autumnataThe Autumnal Moth, November Moth
- Episimus argutanaSumac Leaftier
- Erannis tiliariaLinden Looper Moth, Western Winter Moth, Lime Looper
- Euchlaena johnsonariaJohnson's Euchlaena
- Euchlaena tigrinariaMotted Euchlaena
- Euclea delphiniiSpiny Oak-Slug Moth
- Eulithis gracilineataGreater Grapevine Looper
- Eumacaria madopataBrown-Bordered Geometer
- Euphyia intermediataSharp-Angled Carpet Moth, The Intermediate
- Eupsilia vinulentaStraight-Toothed Sallow
- Glenoides texanariaTexas Gray
- Grapholita packardiCherry Fruit Worm
- Grapholita prunivoraLesser Apple Worm
- Halysidota tessellarisBanded Tussock Moth, Pale Tiger Moth
- Hedya chionosemaTwin-Spotted Budworm, White-Spotted Hedya
- Hedya separatanaPink-Washed Leafroller Moth
- Hyalophora cecropiaCecropia Silkmoth, Cecropia Moth
- Hypagyrtis unipunctataOne-Spotted Variant
- Hyphantria cuneaFall Webworm
- Iridopsis larvariaBent-Line Gray
- Kocakina fidelisIntractable Quaker, Green Fruitworm, Fourlined Green Fruitworm
- Lambdina fiscellariaHemlock Looper, Western Oak Looper
- Limenitis archippusViceroy
- Lithophane antennataAshen Pinion
- Lithophane bethuneiBethune's Pinion
- Lithophane innominataNameless Pinion
- Lochmaeus manteoVariable Oakleaf Caterpillar Moth
- Lomographa glomerariaGray Spring Moth
- Lomographa semiclarataBluish Spring Moth, Wildcherry Looper
- Lomographa vestaliataWhite Spring Moth
- Lophocampa caryaeHickory Tussock Moth, Hickory Tiger Moth
- Lyonetia prunifoliellaStriped Bent-wing
- Lytrosis unitariaCommon Lytrosis
- Macaria coortariaFour-Spotted Angle, Four-Spotted Granite
- Machimia tentoriferellaGold-Striped Leaftier Moth
- Malacosoma americanaEastern Tent Caterpillar
- Malacosoma disstriaForest Tent Caterpillar
- Metarranthis duariaRuddy Metarranthis
- Morrisonia mucensGray Woodgrain
- Nematocampa resistariaFilament Bearer, Horned Spanworm Moth
- Nemoria mimosariaWhite-Fringed Emerald
- Oedemasia concinnaRed-Humped Caterpillar, Red-Humped Appleworm
- Oedemasia semirufescensRed-Washed Prominent
- Oreana unicolorellaLadder-Marked Caterpillar
- Orgyia leucostigmaWhite-Marked Tussock Moth
- Orthosia garmaniGarman's Quaker
- Orthosia hibisciSpeckled Green Fruitworm Moth, Speckled Green Quaker
- Orthosia revictaSubdued Quaker
- Paleacrita vernataSpring Cankerworm Moth
- Paonias excaecataBlinded Sphinx, Blind Eyed Sphinx
- Paonias myopsSmall-Eyed Sphinx
- Papaipema nebrisStalk Borer
- Papilio glaucusEastern Tiger Swallowtail
- Phaecasiophora niveiguttanaLabyrinth Moth
- Phaeoura quernariaOak Beauty Moth
- Phigalia strigatariaSmall Phigalia, Small Oak Looper
- Phigalia titeaThe Half-Wing Geometer, Spiney Looper, Eastern Oak Looper
- Phyllodesma americanaLappet Moth, American Lappet Moth, Southern Lappet Moth
- Phyllonorycter crataegellaApple Leaf Miner, Apple Blotch Leafminer, Apple Leafblotch Miner
- Probole alienariaDogwood Probole, Alien Probole
- Prolimacodes badiaSkiff Moth, Skiff Caterpillar
- Pseudexentera maliPale Apple Budworm, Pale Apple Leafroller
- Pseudexentera maracanaBanded Pseudexentera
- Pseudothyatira cymatophoroidesTufted Thyatirid
- Psorosina hammondiApple Leaf Skeletonizar
- Rhopobota dietzianaWinterberry Moth
- Rhopobota naevanaBlackheaded Fireworm, Holly Bud Moth, Holly Tortrix
- Satyrium liparopsStriped Hairstreak
- Schizura ipomaeaeMorning-Glory Prominent, Checkered-Fringe Prominent
- Selenia alcipheariaNorthern Selenia, Northern Thorn
- Semioscopis packardellaPackard's Concealer Moth, Packard's Semioscopis
- Sparganothis sulfureanaSparganothis Fruitworm Moth, Sulfur Leafroller, False Yellow-Head
- Sparganothis unifascianaOne-Lined Sparganothis
- Sphecodina abbottiiAbbott's Sphinx
- Strymon melinusGray Hairstreak
- Synanthedon pictipesLesser Peachtree Borer Moth
- Synanthedon scitulaDogwood Borer, Pecan Borer
- Syndemis afflictanaFall Dead-Leaf Roller, Gray Leafroller, Black-and-Grey Banded Leafroller
- Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformisEvergreen Bagworm Moth
- Triphosa haesitataTissue Moth, Brown Tissue
- Xanthorhoe lacustrataToothed Brown Carpet
- Zale lunataLunate Zale
- Zale minereaColorful Zale
- Bucculatrix pomifoliella
- Parornix crataegifoliella
- Stigmella castaneaefoliella
11BeesSoutheastern regional records
Southeastern regional records · Crataegus
Individual names are not available yet.
Noori, Seltmann & Orr 2026, A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions (GloBI), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
14BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim
Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Crataegus
- Bonasa umbellusRuffed Grouse
- Callipepla californicaCalifornia Quail
- Catharus guttatusHermit Thrush
- Dendragapus obscurusDusky Grouse
- Melanerpes carolinusRed-bellied Woodpecker
- Meleagris gallopavoWild Turkey
- Oreortyx pictusMountain Quail
- Patagioenas fasciataBand-tailed Pigeon
- Pinicola enucleatorPine Grosbeak
- Sialia sialisEastern Bluebird
Show all 14
- Sitta carolinensisWhite-breasted Nuthatch
- Turdus migratoriusAmerican Robin
- Tympanuchus phasianellusSharp-tailed Grouse
- Tyrannus verticalisWestern Kingbird
Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening
No records yet · Ants · Beetles · Flies · Adult butterflies / moths · Other wasps · Other insects
Plant details
- Family
- Rosaceae
- Flower color
- White
- Fruit begins
- September
- Fruit ends
- October
Growing sources and scope
- Bloom · “May to early June” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition · Carolinas and Georgia
- Flower color · “White” · Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
- Fruit begins · “September” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition · Carolinas and Georgia
- Fruit ends · “October” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition · Carolinas and Georgia
- Height · “Up to about 20 feet” · Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
- Life cycle · “Perennial” · Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
- Light · “Partial shade; Full shade; Full sun (documented habitat)” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition · Carolinas and Georgia
- primary_flower_color · “white” · Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
- Soil · “Dry; Moist (documented habitat)” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition · Carolinas and Georgia
Conservation status
| Virginia rank | S1 |
|---|---|
| Global rank | G5 |
| VA status | Not verified |
| Federal status | Not verified |
Will it fit your yard?
Check this plant against your county, sun and soil moisture. Conditions are checked in your browser.
Sources
- Virginia DCR Natural Heritage rare plant list
- Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora
- USDA PLANTS
- Vascular Plants of North Carolina (NC Natural Heritage Program)
- Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition
- NatureServe Explorer
- Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
- Noori, Seltmann & Orr 2026, A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions (GloBI), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
- Smith, Bachelder, Russell, Morales, Mosher & Seltmann 2024, Bee-Specialization-Modeling v0.6.1 (specialist host table compiled from J. Fowler's pollen specialist bee lists), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
- Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)
- Narango, Tallamy & Shropshire 2020, Few keystone plant genera support the majority of Lepidoptera species, Nature Communications

























