Crataegus laevigata 'Paul's Scarlet' (Paul's Scarlet Hawthorn) care

Light

Crataegus laevigata 'Paul's Scarlet' needs sun on the leaves, not just bright ambient room light. Full sun for the heaviest flowering; tolerates part shade but bloom density and overall vigour are best in open, sunny positions. A south or west-facing windowsill in the northern hemisphere is the default; anywhere else, expect the plant to stretch and pale out within a season.

Watering

Water crataegus laevigata 'paul's scarlet' water weekly for the first two seasons; established trees are very drought-tolerant. The actual day count varies with pot size, light, and season — the finger test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) is more reliable than a fixed calendar. Empty any drainage saucer afterwards so the pot isn't sitting in water. Once established it copes well with dry spells and poor soils, needing supplementary water only in prolonged drought. Soak young trees deeply in dry weather until rooted in.

Soil and pot

Crataegus laevigata 'Paul's Scarlet' grows best in almost any well-drained soil, acid to alkaline. Highly adaptable, growing on clay, chalk, sand and loam across a wide pH range. Tolerates compacted and impoverished urban soils; only persistently waterlogged ground is a problem. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Crataegus laevigata 'Paul's Scarlet' sits happiest at around Outdoor ambient humidity and -35 to 32°C (-31 to 90°F). Fully hardy outdoor tree with no humidity needs; tolerates coastal salt wind, urban pollution and exposed sites exceptionally well. If you keep the room above year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed crataegus laevigata 'paul's scarlet' sparingly. Very undemanding. Usually needs no feeding; on poor soils a spring mulch of compost or a light balanced fertiliser aids establishment. Excess nitrogen encourages soft growth more prone to fireblight. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on crataegus laevigata 'paul's scarlet' in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Hawthorn leaf spot / scab — Fungal leaf spot and scab (Diplocarpon, Venturia) can blotch foliage and cause early leaf drop in wet summers. Rake up fallen leaves and improve airflow; rarely threatens an established tree.
• Fireblight — Susceptible to fireblight (Erwinia amylovora), which blackens shoots and flower trusses as if scorched. Prune out infected wood well into healthy tissue and disinfect tools between cuts.
• Powdery mildew — Grey-white coating on leaves and shoots in dry, still conditions. Usually cosmetic; improve air movement and avoid drought stress to reduce recurrence.
• Sharp thorns — The stout thorns can injure people and pets and make pruning awkward. Site away from paths and play areas, and wear thick gloves when working on the tree.

Propagation

A double-flowered cultivar that does not come true from seed; propagate by budding or grafting onto Crataegus monogyna or seedling hawthorn rootstock. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Crataegus laevigata 'Paul's Scarlet' is pet-safe. ASPCA-listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs (and horses); English Hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata) appears on the ASPCA non-toxic plant lists. Note the sharp thorns can cause physical injury, and any large ingestion of plant material may cause mild, self-limiting stomach upset. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Crataegus laevigata 'Paul's Scarlet' deep-dive guides

Every aspect of crataegus laevigata 'paul's scarlet' care, each with its own calibrated guide:

• Crataegus laevigata 'Paul's Scarlet' watering schedule
• Crataegus laevigata 'Paul's Scarlet' light requirements
• Best soil mix for crataegus laevigata 'paul's scarlet'
• Crataegus laevigata 'Paul's Scarlet' fertilizing guide
• When to repot crataegus laevigata 'paul's scarlet'
• How to propagate crataegus laevigata 'paul's scarlet'
• Crataegus laevigata 'Paul's Scarlet' growth rate & size
• Crataegus laevigata 'Paul's Scarlet' cold hardiness
• Crataegus laevigata 'Paul's Scarlet' temperature & humidity
• Is crataegus laevigata 'paul's scarlet' toxic to cats & dogs?
• Is crataegus laevigata 'paul's scarlet' toxic to cats?
• Is crataegus laevigata 'paul's scarlet' toxic to dogs?
• Getting crataegus laevigata 'paul's scarlet' to bloom

Featured in these plant shortlists

Crataegus laevigata 'Paul's Scarlet' qualifies for 11 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

• Best pet-safe houseplants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — every one verified against the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant list.
• Best drought-tolerant houseplants — Houseplants that prefer to dry out — forgiving of forgotten watering and ideal for travel or busy weeks.
• Best flowering houseplants — Indoor plants grown for their blooms — selected from the flowering species in Growli’s plant-care library.
• Best pet-safe low-maintenance plants — Non-toxic to cats and dogs and forgiving of forgotten watering — the easiest safe choices for a busy pet household.
• Best pet-safe flowering plants — Flowering houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — colour and blooms in a pet home, without the worry.
• Best pet-safe plants for bright light — Non-toxic to cats and dogs and happy in a bright, sunny spot — safe plants for your best-lit windowsill.
• Best pet-safe large indoor plants — Big, floor-standing houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — a statement plant that is safe around pets.
• Best houseplants for full sun — Houseplants that want direct sun — the species for a hot south or west-facing windowsill where shade-lovers scorch.
• Best houseplants for a cool room — Houseplants that tolerate cool conditions down to about 10°C — for an unheated spare room, hallway, porch or a home kept cool.
• Best cat-safe plants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats (and dogs) — safe greenery for a home with a curious cat.
• Best dog-safe plants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to dogs (and cats) — safe greenery for a home with a curious dog.
• Browse all 29 plant shortlists — pet-safe, low-light, drought-tolerant and more

Related guides

Crataegus laevigata 'Paul's Scarlet' is also commonly called Paul's Scarlet Hawthorn or Double Red Hawthorn.

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