Wildlife Value
Highly important as wildlife cover and food. The thorny, suckering growth when protected forms a thicket valuable for bird nesting, loafing, and roosting, and animal loafing and bedding. Twigs and foliage provide a highly preferred browse for whitetail and mule deer. Foxes are chief consumers of fruit. Native over eastern two-thirds of central North America, including eastern Colorado.
| Growth form | irregular |
| Crown density | open |
| Size | to 8' high to 8' spread |
| Drought resistance |
good |
| Cold hardiness | excellent |
| Growth rate | rapid |
| Life span | moderate |
| Elevation range |
to 8,000 feet |
| Soil conditions |
good alkaline tolerance; grows well on most soils |
| Possible insect problems |
pear slug sawfly |
| Possible disease problems |
fireblight, powdery mildew |
| Wildlife value | excellent: hoofed browsers; nesting cover and food value |
| Seasonal color | large white flowers in May |
| Miscellany | native; delicious edible fruit for jellies and canning; forms a thicket |