Parsley hawthorn, is a small tree or shrub in the Rosaceae (rose) family.

The decorative, finely-dissected leaves along with the dainty flowers, small red fruit, and beautiful bark all work together to make this one of the most ornamental of the hawthorns. The thorns can be a problem with children, but also provides protective nesting cover for songbirds. The tree grows to about 25 feet tall and 15 feet wide and can be found in moist areas of the Piedmont and coastal planes. It sometimes grows as a multitrunked shrub.

Plant in moist clay or sandy loams in full to partial sun. It is adaptable to garden soils. Use this tree in moist well-drained areas around ponds, streams, bogs, or woodland sites.

Host plant for the Abbott's Sphinx, Hummingbird Clearwing, Blinded Sphinx, E. Tiger Swallowtail, Io Moth, and Cecropia silkmoth