The first European settlers must have been dazzled by this beautiful small flowering tree in north-eastern North America, long used by indigenous people for food and medicine. Also called the Garland Tree in the USA, its epithet reflects the beauty and fragrance once used in flower garlands or crowns. Introduced 1724.

Native to Ontario, Canada, and eastern states of the USA. Now less common in Europe, superseded by Asian ornamental species, but still commercially available.

Monoecious with hermaphrodite flowers. Insect-pollinated. Seeds distributed by birds and mammals.

Small (10m), bushy with twisting branches and a broad crown. Bark red-brown, developing long fissures with flaky scales. Twigs soon glabrous, in the second year forming spur-like branches with long thorns (2-3cm); buds tiny, red. Leaves ovate to lanceolate, 4-8cm, glabrous except along the underside veins, serrate and sometimes 3-5-lobed. Flowers in corymbs of 4-6, each 3-4cm, pink and fragrant (May-June). Fruit a slightly squat globose pome (3-5cm), yellow-green and acidic (September-October).

Thrives in deep fertile soils. Very cold-hardy but dislikes extreme summer heat. The cultivar ‘Charlottae’ has scented semi-double flowers, and richly coloured autumn foliage.

No notable associations where introduced. Thrushes and other birds feed on fruits during winter months.

Particularly susceptible to rust.

Ornamental. Traditionally, timber was valued for small domestic items, including tool handles, and fruits pressed for cider.