Shrubs, 20–40 dm, branches ± weeping. Stems: ˂trunk bark dark gray or brownish, rough; upper twigs suberect, others ± spreading˃; twigs ˂slightly flexuous˃, new growth pubescent, 1-year old light gray-brown, older gray-brown; thorns on twigs ˂few˃, straight, dark, 1–1.5 cm. Leaves: petiole length 25–30% blade, ˂winged distally˃, pubescent young, glandularity not recorded; blade broadly obovate to broadly rhombic-elliptic, the smaller ± oblong-cuneate, 1.5–2.5(–3) cm, firm to subcoriaceous, base tapered, lobes 0, or 1(or 2) per side, ˂subterminal˃, sinuses shallow (LII to 10%), lobe apex subacute, margins crenate-serrate (distal 1/2), veins 3 per side, apex subacute, surfaces pubescent young, particularly abaxially on veins, glabrescent; ˂on extension shoots deeply incised˃. Inflorescences 3–7-flowered; branches pilose-pubescent; bracteoles oblong-linear, margins glandular. Flowers 15 mm diam.; hypanthium pilose; sepals narrowly triangular, ˂3–4 mm˃, margins subentire or finely glandular-serrate, abaxial pubescence not recorded; anthers cream or ivory; styles 3–5. Pomes red, orbicular, 5–7 mm diam., glabrous; sepals usually erose; pyrenes 3–5.

Flowering Mar–Apr; fruiting Aug–Sep. Sandy soil, stream banks; of conservation concern; 60 m; Ga.

Crataegus exilis is only known from the type locality in south-central Georgia. Its appearance is distinctive; unfortunately, it is known only from flowering and fruiting syntypes. The species is somewhat anomalous in ser. Lacrimatae and slightly resembles a larger C. calva (ser. Apricae) but has pilose inflorescence branches, slightly different leaf shape, and somewhat different leaf margins.