Closely related to the Cockspurthorn, usually planted as the hybrid cultivar ‘Prunifolia’. Introduced from 1797.

Native to North America. Gardens and parks, occasionally naturalised in England.

Monoecious. Insect-pollinated. Bird-distributed.

Small (9m), forming a leafy dome wider than high. Bark very scaly. Twigs glabrous, with medium (2cm) sharp thorns. Foliage dense, turning orange-red in autumn. Leaves oval to obovate, unlobed, glabrous except fine hairs on the underside veins, serrate. Flowers white in round corymbs, with 10-15 stamens and red anthers. Fruit deep-red haws (15mm), falling with the leaves in autumn.

Ornamental.