ORNAMENTAL TREE 

MALUS: CRABAPPLE

A profusion of fragrant blossoms bursting out in spring  make the Flowering Crab a breathtaking show piece.  The contrasting foliage is dense and ranges in color from green to bronze to deep wine-red. Ornamental apples add to the showy display,  often remaining on the branches well into the winter.  Apples tend to be tart and dry.   The flowers, single or double,  may be red, purple, pink or white. Prune Crabapples immediately after flowering as the next springs flowerbuds form in early summer.   They prefer to be planted in a sunny location.

 Crabapple Cultivars for the Prairies

Cultivar Name

 

 Size

Zone

Flowers

Foliage

Description

Dolgo Crabapple

Malus x 'Dolgo'

30' x 20' (10m x 6m) 2 White Green turning yellow in fall. A wide branching tree with showy & fragrant flowers that  are followed by tasty, crimson red apples. 
Kelsey Rosybloom Crabapple

Malus x adstringens  'Kelsey'

20' x 15' (6m x 5m) 2 Semi-double pink flowers  Bronzy red-green leaves A smaller, upright tree with tiny dark fleshed fruit.  Grows in  a rounded shape that would fit nicely into any landscape.
Pink Spires Rosybloom Crabapple

Malus x adstringens       'Pink Spire'

20' x 12' (6m x 4m) 3 Lavender pink flowers  Red-purplish in spring, green-bronze in summer turning to yellowish orange in fall.  A narrow and upright, well branching tree with persistent purplish-red fruit.  
Red Splendor Rosybloom Crabapple

Malus x adstringens 'Red Splendor'

 20' x 15' (6m x 5m) 3 Pink Glossy red-green in the summer This upright, spreading tree produces small bright red fruit that remains on tree throughout the winter.  
Selkirk Rosybloom Crabapple

Malus x adstringens 'Selkirk'

 25' x 25' (8m x 8m) 2 Clear pink Bronze- green A vigorous grower with a rounded, vase-like shape.  Produces bright red fruit that stays on the tree all winter.  Fireblight resistant.
Shaughnessy Cohen Crabapple

Malus x adstringens 'Shaughnessy Cohen'

 25' x 20' (8m x 6m) 3 Fuchsia pink Reddish. A recent introduction from the Morden Research Centre.  One of the first crabapples to leaf in spring.  Fruit attracts birds.
Spring Snow Crabapple

Malus x 'Spring Snow'

 25' x 15' (8m x 5m) 3 Glistening white Glossy green. An attractive, heat tolerant  tree with very fragrant flowers in the spring but does not produce any fruit.  Rounded shape.   Makes an excellent lawn specimen.
Thunderchild Rosybloom Crabapple

Malus x adstringens 'Thunderchild'

 20' x 15' (6m x 5m) 2 Rose-pink Deep purple during growing season, orange yellow in the fall. An upright, spreading crabapple with an oval crown and an excellent resistance to fireblight.  It produces small red fruit.  

Revised by Rachel Giesbrecht on June 28, 2005.

 

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