Crataegus x media 'Paul's Scarlet'

Crataegus x media ‘Paul’s Scarlet’ (Paul’s Scarlet Hawthorn, synonym Crataegus x laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlet’) was found in a garden in Hertfordshire in 1858 by William Paul & Son from Waltham Cross nursery near London, United Kingdom, as a sport of Crataegus laevigata ‘Rosea Flore Pleno’. This tree was formerly classified under Crataegus laevigata but is now known to concern a hybrid between Crataegus laevigata and Crataegus monogyna. Ultimately, the red hawthorn will attain a height of around eight metres with a maximum eight-metre-broad conical crown which assumes a semi-open and irregular round shape in maturity. Crataegus x media ‘Paul’s Scarlet’ is one of the three hawthorns given an Award of Garden Merit from the English Royal Horticultural Society. 

At the end of May or early June Crataegus x media ‘Paul’s Scarlet’ is a real eye-catcher with its pink-red blossom, slowly fading to pale pink, which stands out even more on account of the double flower. Because the stamens and petals have coalesced the tree does not yield much nectar and pollen. The red hawthorn does not produce fruits which can be a major benefit when planting in public spaces. The healthy, leathery and 5-lobed leaf is dark green and changes to yellow in autumn. The trunk is grey and smooth but becomes more irregular in maturity with flaky bark in platelets. Crataegus x media ‘Paul’s Scarlet’ has fewer thorns than the species but those it has are two to three centimetres long and sharp.

Crataegus x media ‘Paul’s Scarlet’ is tolerant of paved areas and air pollution and grows well on most soils although prefers nutrient-rich and slightly firmer ground. The red hawthorn is less tolerant of long periods of drought and strong winds. Cultivar ‘Paul’s Scarlet’ adds colour to streets, squares and parking areas with its abundant spring blossom. But Crataegus x media ‘Paul’s Scarlet’ also makes a bright addition to parks and gardens.