John Lindley in 1828 considered it to have little affinity with North American hawthorns, being closer to Eastern European species, and suggested it could be a relative of Azarole hawthorn (Crataegus azarolus), (under the name Crataegus maroccana Persoon). In the early twentieth century, W. J. Bean described it similarly, as a native of Armenia.
In 1828, John Lindley believed it had little affinity with North American hawthorns and was more closely related to Eastern European species, suggesting it might be a relative of Azarole hawthorn (Crataegus azarolus), under the name Crataegus maroccana Persoon. Similarly, in the early twentieth century, W. J. Bean described it as native to Armenia.