Black Hawthorn Trees are small trees that grows up to 8 m tall, armed with sharp thorns up to 2 cm long. The tree bears beautiful white flowers during May and June. The Leaves are oval and are up to 6 cm long, with up to 9 small lobes at the top. The flowers are white, round, and grow in clusters. The fruit comes in clusters of small, blackish fruits that die quite quickly.
It is found from sea level to mid-elevations on all of Vancouver Island, along watercourses, ditches, and meadowland thickets. Black hawthorns need lots of sunlight to grow to tree size.
The apple-like fruit provides food for birds in the winter. The Impenetrable hawthorn thickets are good nesting sites for them as well.
The strong, hardwood makes durable digging sticks and handles for shovels and axes.