Crabapple trees are lovely flowering trees with magnificent blossoms. Pink, white, cream, purple, orange, and red Crabapple flowers are available in a wide range of colors. Crabapple trees produce tiny fruits with a tart flavor, known as crabapples. After the leaves have fallen in the autumn, the colorful miniature apples commonly hang on the tree.
Miniature apple trees (Malus domestica) are similar to crabapple trees (botanical name Malus). Little shrub-like bushes around 4 ft. (1.2 m) tall may be the tiniest crabapple trees. Crabapples may grow to be up to 30 feet (9 meters) in length. Zones USDA 4 through 8 are ideal for crabapple trees. Cold-hardy cultivars, however, may be found in zones 2 and 3.
The lovely spring blossoms of crabapple trees are the most appealing feature. Several pastel shade blooms adorn the wide, spreading branches. Crabapple trees have a scaly bark that is gray in color.
The sweet crabapple tree (Malus coronaria) bark is described and photographed in this article. To add year-round interest to your garden landscape, discover the finest varieties of crabapples to cultivate in your yard.
Crabapples vs. Apples
Crabapples have a tart flavor when compared to regular apples, and they are considerably smaller fruits. Crabapple fruits are usually 2″ (5 cm) in diameter and ripen in the fall. Fruit size on traditional apple trees is larger than 2″ (5 cm). Crabapple fruits come in a variety of colors, including yellow, amber, orange, red, and purple.
Crabapple fruits are smaller than golf balls in size. They may, however, sprout like little berries on the tree.
Can You Eat Crabapples?
Crabapples are a fruit that is edible, but their flavor is usually bitter and they should not be consumed raw. Crabapples are used in cooking recipes because they have a tarter flavor than regular apples. Jellies, sauces, pickled crabapples, and jams are all popular ways to eat crabapples.
Some crabapple varieties, on the other hand, are still too sour to consume even after cooking. Dolgo, Callaway, Centennial, Chestnut, Wickson, and Whitney crabapples are just a few of the delicious and tasty crabapple varieties available.
Crabapple Tree Flowers (Crab Apple Tree Blooms)
Crabapple flowers come in a variety of colors, including single and double bloom colors. The blooms of whites, pinks, reds, or purples may be seen in the magnificent floral crabapple in spring.
What Are the Best Types of Flowering Crabapple Trees?
In the spring, seeing a crabapple tree in bloom is particularly lovely. Consider the hues you want from your tree, the size of the tree, and whether you want tart or sweet crabapples when choosing between crabapple trees for your yard. The most gorgeous crabapple tree varieties with colorful flowers in the spring are listed below:
- Prairifire crabapple trees. In late spring, prairifire crabapples produce masses of dark pink to red blossom growth. A small ornamental tree for sunny gardens, this flowering crabapple tree is a tiny shrub.
- Royal Raindrops crabapple trees. In mid-spring, magenta-pink blooms appear on ‘Royal Raindrops,’ a crabapple cultivar with unusual deeply-lobed leaves.
- Lollipop crabapple trees. In the spring, spectacular white blooms spike. Upwardgrowing branches and tiny amber-colored fruit characterize this dwarf apple tree.
- Robinson crabapple trees. A pink-blossoming tree with a spherical form and average height, this crabapple cultivar is a good choice. Red-skinned fruits from Robinson crabapple trees are commonly used to make jellies.
- Sugar Tyme crabapple trees. In mid-spring, ‘Sugar Tyme’ Malus produces a profusion of fragrant white and pink blooms. The little crimson apples stay on the branches after the leaves fall in autumn, and the crabapple tree gives off lovely fragrances.
Types of Crabapple Trees (With Pictures)
Here are some of the most gorgeous flowering crabapple trees that you may put in your front or back yard.
Prairifire Crabapples (Malus ‘Prairifire’)
Crabapple trees with dark pink-red blooms ‘Prairifire,’ which may grow up to 20 feet (6 meters) tall and 15 feet (5 meters) wide, are popular ornamental flowering trees. Gray and scaly crabapple tree bark The ‘Prairifire’ crabapple tree’s thick, rounded development is stunning throughout the year. Reddish-purple ovate leaves develop that become dark green when the dark pink or red blossoms fade.
The tree’s leaves turn an inviting orange color in the fall. Then during the winter, little crimson sweet crabapples emerge that stay on the tree. Plant crabapple trees in full sun and well-draining soil, such as the kind used by Plant ‘Prairifire. The trees grow in a variety of soil types and are drought tolerant. USDA zones 3 to 8 are optimal for growth.
Robinson Crabapple (Malus ‘Robinson’)
Due to their spectacular pink blossoms, Robinson crabapple (Malus ‘Robinson’) pink blooms are highly sought after. In the fall, this crabapple variety becomes orange after purple leaves that became green with red and then turned green. The red fruit clusters last until winter and are just under 1 cm in diameter.
In zones 4 through 8, ‘Robinson’ crabapples may be cultivated. Crabapple trees are a popular choice for yards because they tolerate drought and need minimal pruning throughout the winter. Plant in full sun for the best results, as with most crabapple varieties.
Sargent Crabapple (Malus sargentii)
Sargent crabapple (Malus sargentii) is a tiny landscape tree with loads of sweetly-scented white blossoms. Little crabapples, which resemble clusters of red berries, are produced by the little crabapple tree. Little crabapple trees reach 6 to 10 feet (1.8 to 3 meters) in height with a thick horizontal crown.
Crabapples grow as small blooming shrubs and have a spread of up to 12 feet (3.6 meters) wide. Sargent crabapple bushes may be used as decorative hedge plants, buffer zone, or screening.
Lollipop Crabapple (Malus ‘Lollizam’)
Every spring, clusters of fragrant white flowers appear on dwarf trees like lollipop crabapple, which are ideal for tiny landscaping. With its straight slender stem and rounded growth, the upturned branches give the crabapple tree a lollipop shape. In zones 4 to 8, the small dwarf crabapple tree retains its form with little trimming.
European Crabapple (Malus sylvestris)
European crabapples can grow up to 33 feet (10 meters) tall and resemble shrubs more than trees. The thorns on this wild crabapple tree are shiny and oval, the leaves have serrated edges, and the little edible apples are 1″ (3 cm) in diameter. White spring blooms emit fragrant odors from English crabapple trees.
Royal Raindrops Crabapple (Malus ‘Royal Raindrops’)
The ‘Royal Raindrops’ crabapple tree has magenta-pink blooms that are abundant and fragrant. The large, spherical crown of the upright crabapple tree is colorful all year. The pink blossoms contrast with the reddish-purple foliage when they bloom.
Little clusters of red crabapple fruits develop in late summer and last until winter, growing to around 15 to 20 feet (4 – 6 m) tall. In zones 4 to 8, grow as a flowering specimen tree in a sunny garden.Snowdrift Crabapple (Malus ‘Snowdrift’)
White fragrant blossoms adorn the branches of snowdrift crabapple (Malus ‘Snowdrift’). The Snowdrift crabapple is a beautiful landscaping tree because of its upright fruit tree shape and rounded growth. In the spring, white spring blooms contrast with glossy green leaves and cover the tree branches.
The little orangey-red fruits replace the lovely crabapple blooms. Between 15 and 20 feet (4.5 to 6 meters) tall, Crabapple “Snowdrift” trees grow. They prefer full sun and a wide variety of soils, as do other ornamental crabapple trees. They are cold hardy in zones 4 to 8.
Red Jewel Crabapple (Malus ‘Red Jewel’)
Every spring, showy clusters of tiny red fruit appear on Red Jewel crabapple trees (Malus ‘Red Jewel’), up to 15 feet (4.5 meters) tall and 15 feet (4.5 meters) wide. In the spring, summer, fall, and winter seasons, these fruit-producing trees feature tiny berry-like apples measuring about 1 cm across.
Adirondack Crabapple (Malus ‘Admiration’)
In early spring, little clusters of white flowers appear on the tiny fruits of Adirondack crabapple (Malus ‘Admiration). This crabapple tree bears “huge, waxy, fragrant, white blossoms” after blooming and produces bronze-red fruit clusters that resemble clusters of tiny cherries. For small yards, the compact flowering tree is ideal, as long as it gets plenty of sunlight.
Crabapple Purple Prince (Malus ‘Purple Prince’)
Crabapple Purple Prince (Malus ‘Purple Prince) blossoms bright rose-red with pink-red blooms at first, then fades to lighter rose. The crabapple blossoms turn a delicate pink color towards the conclusion of spring. The purple fruits of the ‘Purple Prince’ crabapple appear about half an inch (1.2 cm) in diameter when the tree finishes blooming.
‘Purple Prince’ crabapples produce excellent jams and jellies when grown between 18 and 20 feet (5 and 6 meters) tall. In the winter, prune dead branches on this drought-tolerant crabapple tree in full sun.
Sugar Tyme Crabapple (Malus ‘Sutyzam’)
The flowers on Sugar Tyme trees are sweet-smelling white blooms with pink tinges, and they may grow up to 15 feet (4.5 meters) tall. The spectacle of the crabapple tree in bloom in the spring is remarkable. The medium-sized tree is covered in white flower clusters. tiny round red fruits develop after the plant blooms, contrasting with the dense green leaves. In zones 4 to 8, plant sugar tyme crabapples in full sun.
Crabapple Profusion (Malus x moerlandsii)
Crabapple Profusion (Malus x moerlandsii) has gorgeous deep pink blossoms that are a delight to the eye. With a broad spreading crown of 35 ft. (10 m) across, the large crabapple trees reach heights of 15 to 30 feet (4 to 9 meters). Massive quantities of fragrant blooms, tiny edible fruits, and beautiful autumn colors characterize the ‘Profusion’ crabapple, which has all of the qualities that make these trees so appealing.
Profusion Crabapple blossoms, which bloom in mid-spring and are made up of deep pink blooms, are a sight to behold. The little spherical fruits may be yellow, amber, orange, or red in color and are smaller than an inch (1.5 cm) in diameter.
Camelot Crabapple (Malus ‘Camelot’)
White flowers with a touch of pink are found on the tiny decorative Camelot crabapple (Malus ‘Camelot’) tree. Malus ‘Camelot’ has a wide horizontally spreading crown up to 8 feet (2.4 meters) tall and grows up to 10 feet (3 meters) tall. Crabapple trees with flowers that are aromatic white with traces of pink hues are called “Camelot.”
Crabapple tree ‘Camelot’ is ideal for compact decorative gardens because of its tiny fruit. In the spring, these lovely fruit trees turn a delicate pink color, and their dark-green leaves contrast with multiple clusters of tiny red fruits.
Louisa Crabapple (Malus ‘Louisa’)
Crabapple ‘Louisa’ trees are tiny weeping crabapple trees with pastel pink blossoms that bloom in late spring. In the middle of spring, flowers bloom on this crabapple variety. The drooping branches of the ‘Louisa’ crabapple are covered in clusters of flowers, making it highly decorative.
The fruits are tiny yellow or orange when they bloom, and in the fall, they produce small yellow or orange-colored fruits. As a decorative specimen tree in small gardens, plant ‘Louisa’ crabapple trees.
Brandywine Crabapple (Malus ‘Brandywine’)
The fragrance of pink double blooms characterizes Brandywine crabapple (Malus ‘Brandywine’). With brilliant cherry-red leaves, the flowers bloom in mid-summer. The leaves become dark green as the season progresses, followed by tiny red edible fruits. Other crabapple trees drop their fruits quickly, but not as quickly as this tree does.
This tree is a “messy” tree in the autumn since it grows between 15 and 20 ft. (4.5 and 6 m) tall with a width of up to 20 ft. (6 m).
Siberian Crabapple (Malus baccata)
Among the Malus species, Siberian Crabapple (Malus baccata) is the most cold hardy. Early spring brings out the beauty of crabapple blossoms, which are ornamental clusters of fragrant white blooms. Little yellow or red crabapples develop after the flowers are gone. In chutneys, jellies, and pickling, the edible fruits are wonderful. The Siberian crabapple is the most cold-hardy of all Malus species. As long as it gets enough sunlight, the Malus baccata crabapple thrives in zones 2 through 7.
The Malus baccata ‘Halward’ cultivar is a smaller cold-hardy ornamental crabapple that may be grown in chilly regions. Only 15 feet tall, this little crabapple Tall (4.5 meters).
Sweet Crabapple or Wild Crabapple (Malus coronaria)
Sweet crabapple (Malus coronaria) has pinkish-white blooms that emit a lovely fragrance, and it is also known as the wild crabapple tree. Crabapple fruits are oblong and measure 1.5 inches (4 cm) across. The juicy edible meat has a distinct sour flavor, despite being labeled the “sweet” crabapple.
Crabapple trees may be found growing as big flowering bushes or small-medium trees. The tiny crabapple tree has a broad, spreading crown that grows up to 33 feet (10 meters) tall.
How to Care for Ornamental Crabapple Trees
Crabapple trees are simple to take care of when it comes to decorating. You’ll need to water your young crabapple regularly after planting it to keep the soil moist. The tree, on the other hand, becomes drought tolerant once it has grown. You no longer need to water it as often. Here are some helpful advice on how to grow pink and white crabapple blossoms in your yard every spring.
Water
While the root system develops, crabapple trees need frequent watering. Apart from normal rainfall, a mature tree does not need water. The little trees may need to be watered throughout the dry seasons in order to keep the soil moist.
Soil
Planting crabapple trees in well-drained, rich soil. Organic compost can help provide the tree with nutrients if it is mixed in.
Light
Crabapple trees, which produce abundant fragrant blooms in full sun, flourish in all types. Crabapple trees need at least six hours of sunlight every day to thrive. The tree will produce fewer flowers and have an uneven shape if it grows in partial shade.
Temperature
In temperate regions with warm summers and cold winters, trees in the Malus genus, such as crabapples, flourish best. In hot or tropical areas, crabapples don’t thrive. Zones 4 through 7 or 8 are ideal for crabapples.
Pruning
With minimal trimming, crabapples retain their form. Crabapple trees should only be pruned in the winter, when dead, rotting, or sick branches need to be removed.