If you're on the lookout for a small specimen tree with a ton of year round, pleasing character, check out Thornless Cockspur Hawthorn. This super hardy tree with 15-20' height and similar spread has pretty, white flowers clusters in spring, followed by thick, dark green glossy foliage that turns rusty-orange in fall, a proliferation of red fruit in late September, and an unusual, horizontal silhouette to admire in winter. And here's a bonus – it's extremely water thrifty so extra water not required! In our estimation this is a purple ribbon small tree for Montana.
To be sure there are other Hawthorns that also have much to offer and aren't to be neglected:
Crimson Cloud, a charming 15' x 10' tree with irresistible bright red flowers in spring and glossy red fall fruits;
Russian, a similarly small, usually multi-stem tree with an abundance of fruit, a more natural form, and a tolerance of drought and poor soils. Truth is you can't go wrong with a Hawthorn!
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