Photo taken on Virginia Tech campus.

Here’s an example of a tree that provides beautiful winter color.  This Hawthorn is located on the Virginia Tech campus and is currently covered with bright red fruit.

The Hawthorn is native to Virginia and is a versatile tree that grows to about 20 feet tall.  This tree shines all four seasons.  It has lots of white flowers in spring, lustrous green leaves in summer, colored foliage in the fall, and these huge clusters of red fruit in the winter.  Spring birds love the fruit.

Plant it in full sun or partial shade as a single specimen, a background for hedges, or in shrub borders.  It’s hardy and easy to grow, growing about 10-12 inches a year.

Be aware it has thorns, so if you have small children, take this into account when choosing a location.