Botanist Pietari Kalm brought this species back to Finland from his 18th century exploration of North America, and it has remained the most commonly planted hawthorn right up to the present day, especially as hedges. It is not commercially grown elsewhere, but during the 1950s and 1960s it topped the sales of all woody plants. In those days it was also used as a small tree, often clipped into a ball.
Its popularity as hedging is explained by its close-growing erect form and excellent winter hardiness throughout the whole country. But it is also highly attractive growing freely as a large bush or small tree, producing abundant flowers and berries. In Finland, hawthorns blossom white in June. They are full of long sharp thorns hidden by the leaves and in late autumn, when the leaves have fallen, the bright orange to red berries still decorate them.
At Mustila this species grows as scattered, individual free-growing small trees, which flower attractively. As they age, their crowns take on the picturesque appearance typical of hawthorns.
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