CRABAPPLE - MALUS SPP

Common Name: crabapple

Scientific Name: 
Family:
Rosaceae
Genus: Malus
Species: M. spp.

Hardiness Zone: 3 to 7
Height: 6 to 25 ft
Width: 4 to 20 ft

Common Characteristics:​ ​​​​

These cultivars are widely divergent in site characteristics, size, color, and fruit size. The physical characteristics of the trees are all very similar. Crabapples bloom in the spring, bearing flowers. The flowers vary a great deal in color, size, fragrance, and visual appeal per cultivar. It is common for the flower buds to be red and boom to pink or white 5-petaled flowers. The fruit ripens between July and November and varies in size from ¼” to 2” long or wide. The fruits have a bitter taste. The leaves are dark green above and paler underneath, turning brown in the fall. The bark on crab apples is typically gray or brown furrowed into narrow scaly ridges, sometimes having a peeling appearance. 

Where it Grows:

Crab apple cultivars can grow in a variety of different site conditions such as valleys and lower slopes, borders of forests, fence rows, fields, and along streams in prairies. The main preference for all cultivars is that it needs moist, well-drained slightly acidic soils. They thrive in full sun.

How it's Used:

Crabapples are widely used under power lines as boulevard trees as well as landscape trees. Some cultivars' wood is used for tool handles. Preserves and cider can be made from the fruit. 

Ecosystem Services:

The fruit is a food source for a white variety of songbirds, migratory birds, and small mammals from squirrels to foxes. 

Where it is Native To:

The native ranges of crabapple vary across North America.

Known Varieties and Their Traits:

  • Adams (Malus 'Adams'):20 feet high and 20 feet wide; rounded form; rose-colored flowers; dark red, persistent fruit. Disease resistance: scab (fair), fireblight (excellent), rust (fair), mildew (fair).
  • Adirondack (Malus 'Adirondack'): 12 to 18 feet high and 6 to 10 feet wide; narrow, upright form; white flowers; orange-red fruit.Disease resistance: scab (excellent), fireblight (excellent), rust (excellent), mildew (excellent).
  • Beverly (Malus 'Beverly'):20 feet high and 20 feet wide; rounded form; white flowers, red fruit.Disease resistance: scab (excellent), fireblight (fair), rust (excellent), mildew (excellent).
  • Cardinal (Malus 'Cardinal'): 15 to 18 feet high and 20 feet wide; upright spreading; dark purple-red foliage; magenta-pink flowers; deep red fruit. Disease resistance: scab excellent), fireblight (good), rust (excellent), mildew (excellent).
  • Centurion® (Malus 'Centzam'): 15 to 20 feet high and 15 feet wide; narrow, upright form; red flowers; cherry red, persistent fruit. Disease resistance: scab (fair), fireblight (excellent), rust (excellent), mildew (excellent).
  • Coralburst® (Malus 'Coralcole'):10 feet high and 10 to 15 feet wide; rounded form; rose-colored flowers; bronze-yellow fruit. Disease resistance: scab (fair), fireblight (excellent), rust (excellent), mildew (excellent).
  • David (Malus 'David'): 15 feet high and 15 feet wide; rounded form; white flowers; scarlet red, persistent fruit. Disease resistance: scab (good), fireblight (good), rust (excellent), mildew (excellent).
  • Dolgo (Malus 'Dolgo'): 40 feet high and 30 feet wide; upright, spreading form; white flowers; reddish-purple fruit. Disease resistance: scab (excellent), fireblight (good), rust (excellent), mildew (excellent).
  • Donald Wyman (Malus 'Donald Wyman'): 20 feet high and 20 feet wide; rounded form; white flowers; red, persistent fruit. Disease resistance: scab (good), fireblight (excellent), rust (excellent), mildew (good).
  • Doubloons (Malus 'Doubloons'): 12 feet high and 10 feet wide; rounded form; white flowers; yellow-gold fruit. Disease resistance: scab (poor), fireblight (excellent), rust (excellent), mildew (excellent).
  • Golden Raindrops® (Malus 'Schmidtcultleaf'): 20 feet high and 15 feet wide; upright, vase-shaped; deeply cut green leaves; white flowers; small yellow fruit. Disease resistance: scab (excellent), fireblight (good), rust (excellent), mildew (excellent).
  • Harvest Gold® (Malus 'Hargozam'): 20 feet high and 15 feet wide; upright form; white flowers; golden-yellow fruit. Disease resistance: scab (excellent), fireblight (fair), rust (excellent), mildew (excellent).
  • Indian Magic (Malus 'Indian Magic'): 20 feet high and 15 feet wide; rounded form; rose-pink flowers; red, persistent fruit. Disease resistance: scab (poor), fireblight (fair), rust (excellent), mildew (excellent).
  • Indian Summer (Malus 'Indian Summer'): 18 feet high and 20 feet wide; rounded form; rose-red flowers; red, persistent fruit. Disease resistance: scab (fair), fireblight (excellent), rust (excellent), mildew (excellent).
  • Lancelot (Malus x 'Lanzam'): 8 to 10 feet and wide; rounded form; white flowers; persistent gold fruit. Disease resistance : scab (excellent), fireblight (excellent), rust (excellent), mildew (excellent).
  • Lollipop® (Malus 'Lollizam'): 10 to 12 feet high and wide; compact, rounded form; white flowers; yellow fruit. Disease resistance: scab (excellent), fireblight (excellent), rust (excellent), mildew (excellent).
  • Louisa (Malus 'Louisa'): 8 to 12 feet high and 15 feet wide; weeping form; pink flowers; yellow fruit. Disease resistance: scab (fair), fireblight (good), rust (good), mildew (excellent).
  • Molten Lava® (Malus 'Molazam'): 12 feet high and 15 feet wide; broad weeping form; white flowers; orange-red, persistent flowers. Disease resistance: scab (excellent), fireblight (excellent), rust (fair), mildew (excellent).
  • Pink Princess™ (Malus 'Parrisi'): 8 feet high and 12 feet wide; low spreading form; rose-pink flowers; dark red fruit. Disease resistance: scab (fair), fireblight (fair), rust (fair), mildew (fair).
  • Prairie-fire (Malus 'Prairifire): 20 feet high and 20 feet wide; upright, rounded form; dark red flowers; purplish-red fruit. Disease resistance: scab (excellent), fireblight (excellent), rust (excellent), mildew (excellent).
  • Professor Sprenger (Malus 'Professor Sprenger'): 20 feet high and 20 feet wide; upright spreading form; white flowers; orange-red, persistent fruit. Disease resistance: scab (excellent), fireblight (excellent), rust (excellent), mildew (excellent).
  • Profusion (Malus 'Profusion'): 20 feet high and 20 feet wide;  upright, spreading form; rose-pink flowers; dark red, persistent fruit. Disease resistance: scab (fair), fireblight (fair), rust (excellent), mildew (good).
  • Purple Prince (Malus 'Purple Prince'): 18 to 20 feet high and wide; rounded form; rose-red flowers; maroon fruit. Disease resistance: scab (good), fireblight (good), rust (excellent), mildew (excellent).
  • Radiant (Malus 'Radiant'): 25 feet high and 20 feet wide; rounded form; dark pink flowers; red/yellow fruit. Disease resistance: scab (poor), fireblight (excellent), rust (good), mildew (fair). 
  • Red Jade (Malus 'Red Jade'): 12 feet high and 20 feet wide; weeping form; white flowers; red, persistent fruit. Disease resistance: scab (poor), fireblight (fair), rust (fair), mildew (fair).
  • Red Jewel™ (Malus 'Jewelcole'): 18 feet high and 12 feet wide; upright, rounded form; white flowers; cherry red, persistent fruit. Disease resistance: scab (good), fireblight (poor), rust (excellent), mildew (good).
  • Red Splendor (Malus 'Red Splendor'): 20 feet high and 20 feet wide; upright, rounded form; pink flowers; red, persistent fruit. Disease resistance: scab (poor), fireblight (fair), rust (good), mildew (fair).
  • Robinson (Malus 'Robinson'): 25 feet high and 25 feet wide; upright, spreading form; pink flowers; dark red, persistent fruit. Disease resistance: scab (fair), fireblight (good), rust (good), mildew (good)
  • Royal Raindrops® (Malus x 'JFS-KW5'): 15 to 20 feet high and wide; rounded form; pink flowers; maroon-red, persistent fruit. Disease resistance: scab (excellent), fireblight (good), rust (good), mildew (good).
  • Royalty (Malus 'Royalty'): 20 feet high and 15 feet wide; upright, rounded form; crimson-purple flowers; red-purple fruit. Disease resistance: scab (poor), fireblight (poor), rust (good), mildew (fair).
  • Ruby Tears™ (Malus 'Bailears'): 8 to 10 feet high and 12 to 15 feet wide; weeping form;burgundy-green foliage; pink flowers; red fruit Disease resistance: scab (excellent), fireblight (excellent); rust (excellent); mildew (excellent).
  • Tina (Malus sargentii 'Tina'): 3 to 4  feet high and 5 to 6 feet wide; spreading form; white flowers; red fruit. Disease resistance: scab (excellent), fireblight (excellent), rust (excellent), mildew (excellent).
  • Sargent Crab (Malus sargentii):  A species crabapple. 8 to 10 feet high and 10 to 12 feet wide; spreading dwarf form; red buds turn to white flowers; red persistent fruit. Disease resistance: scab (excellent), fireblight (excellent), rust (excellent); mildew (excellent).
  • Sargent Crab Candymint (Malus 'Candymint'): 10 feet high and 18 feet wide, spreading habit, pink with a redeye, red fruit. Disease resistance: scab (excellent), fireblight (excellent), rust (excellent), mildew (excellent).
  • Showtime™ (Malus 'Shotizam'): 20 feet high and wide; broadly oval to rounded form; purple-green foliage; pinkish-red flowers; red fruit. Disease resistance: scab (fair), fireblight (good), rust (good), mildew (excellent).
  • Silver Moon (Malus 'Silver Moon'): 20 feet high and 15 feet wide; upright, rounded form; white flowers; dark red fruit. Disease resistance: scab (poor), fireblight (poor), rust (poor), mildew (poor).
  • Snowdrift (Malus 'Snowdrift'): 20 feet high and 20 feet wide; rounded form; white flowers; orange-red, persistent fruit. Disease resistance: scab (poor), fireblight (poor), rust (good), mildew (good).
  • Spring Snow (Malus 'Spring Snow'): 25 feet high and 20 feet wide; upright, oval form; white flowers; nearly sterile (little to no fruit). Disease resistance: scab (fair), fireblight (fair), rust (good), mildew (good).
  • Sugar Tyme® (Malus 'Sutyzam'): 18 feet high and 15 feet wide; upright, spreading form; white flowers; red, persistent fruit. Disease resistance: scab (excellent), fireblight (good), rust (good), mildew (good).
  • Tina crabapple (Malus sargentii 'Tina'): 5 to 6 feet high and 6 to 8 feet wide; spreading dwarf habit; red buds open white; red fruit Disease resistance: scab (excellent), fireblight (good), rust (excellent), mildew (excellent).
  • Velvet Pillar™ (Malus 'Velvetcole'): 20 feet high and 14 feet wide; narrow, upright form; pink flowers; red fruit. Disease resistance: scab (poor), fireblight (fair), rust (fair), mildew (fair).
  • Zumi Calocarpa (Malus x zumi 'Calocarpa'): 20 to 25 feet high and wide; upright spreading form; white flowers; bright red, persistent fruit. Disease resistance: scab (excellent), fireblight (poor), rust (good), mildew (good).

Problems:

Apple scab, cedar-apple rust, fireblight, and powdery mildew are concerns for crabapple. There are some disease-resistant cultivars so this should be taken into consideration when selecting one to plant. Some varieties are prone to profuse suckering and need to be tended and pruned yearly. 

References:

The Morton Arboretum

Little, E. L. (n.d.). National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees; Eastern Edition. (Original work published 1980)

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