The crabapple is from the genus Malus, which also includes apples. Crabapples are often used as the root foundation for an apple tree grafting endeavor, but they are beautiful in their own right, and some also create palatable fruit. Massive varieties make beautiful shade trees as they blossom with colorful flowers in the spring. Dwarf cultivars can add interest to any landscaping project. As a hearty tree, they perform well in many different climates, usually located in the U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 8. There are more than 1,000 known species, each with their own idiosyncrasies and development habits.
General Growth Patterns
Crabapples are used primarily for their ornamental value. They are available with assorted colors and petal arrangements, and many grow ornamental fruit after budding. They range from 10 to 25 feet in height and spread. The vast majority of them are deemed to have medium increasenonetheless, the quickness of reaching maturity varies depending on the size and kind of the crabapple. Shrubs, dwarfs and weeping cultivars reach up to 15 feet tall, while upright variations reach 25 to 30 feet. They can be located in many of shapes such as columnar, flat, oval and round.
Slow Growing
Slow growth means that a crabapple grows 12 inches or less per year. The diminutive “Sargent” crabapple (Malus sargentii) is among the most common slow-growing crabapples. This small number produces aromatic flowers in the spring followed by miniature fruit only about 1/2 inch in diameter. It grows 6 to 10 feet tall and spreads between 6 and 12 feet, giving it a shrubby appearance. Another slow growing number is the “Coralburst” crabapple (Malus coralcore). The glowing coral-colored buds for which it’s named turn into wildlife-attracting, reddish-orange fruit in the summer.
Medium Growth
Trees that grow between 13 and 24 inches per year are deemed to have medium development. A vast majority of crabapple trees fall into this class. Highlights of the medium-growth category comprise the “Snowdrift” crabapple (Malus “Snowdrift”), that can be well-known because of its abundant white flowers. The “Harvest Gold” (Malus “Hargozam”) also has white flowers, but they turn into long-lasting golden fruit throughout the winter months. Lately, the glowing pink “Japanese Flowering” (Malus floribunda) has gained notoriety as a flexible home ornamental.
Fast
Fast-growing varieties of crabapples are more challenging to find, as this category includes trees which grow 25 or more inches a year. There are two common varieties which grow this fast. The “Purple Prince,” (Malus “Purple Prince”) includes a curved shape, and its bright purple flowers competitor are one of the most beautiful in the crabapple species. The fastest-growing crabapple is the “Robinson” (Malus “Robinson”), that boasts vibrant red buds that grow small red edible fruit. This larger crabapple grows at a symmetrical 25 by 25 foot shape.