Black hawthorns are tremendously versatile shrubs. Normally found streamside, they also appear individually on dry sunny hillsides. These prairie loners probably germinated and established in exceptionally wet years, but the fact that they persist (and many are quite old) is a testament to deep roots. Established plants easily weather our summer dry season. Develops dark purple berries in late summer that birds can't resist. Grow alone or as a thicket. Thicket plantings use water more sparingly because they shade each other’s roots.