The colours and fragrance of spring are evident as you look at the flowering crab-apple trees. These trees will bloom first and leaf out second and are grown primarily for their looks rather than the fruit they bear.
They are an attractive asset to any landscape. They provide year-round interest with their showy flowers in spring, attractive summer foliage, and fall colours. And in winter, the small fruit that hangs on the trees, until the birds find them, gives the additional attraction for spectators watching the birds come to eat the tiny crab-apples.
Flowering crab-apples are a smaller sized tree (15 - 20 feet in height and 13-15 foot spread,) with a nice full shape and dense foliage making them a good choice for a specimen tree, or to line a driveway or street, or just for the shade!
Flowering crab-apples will tolerate some shade but grow best in full sun. They prefer a rich, well drained soil. They are a low-maintenance tree needing very little pruning. Damaged, dead or diseased branches should be removed and any branch that takes away from the shape of the tree can be pruned. Suckers should also be removed. Pruning is done in early spring when the buds begin to swell. Fertilize with a tree and shrub fertilizer (4-19-17) in the spring, when the tree show signs of life and then again in early summer. Do not fertilize anytime after mid-August as you want the tree to slow down its growth to become dormant before the winter sets in.
There are several varieties that have grown very well in our Zone 3 climate, they include the following varieties: "Radiant" has deep, red buds that open up to showy, fragrant pink flowers, which are followed by purple/red foliage that turns green, and in fall turns orange/yellow. It produces dark red fruits that persists through the winter. The tree itself has a nicely shaped crown. "Royalty" stands out because of its reddish purple glossy foliage with green undercast that turns to yellow/orange in fall. The flowers are a dark red and the small fruit is also a dark red. It was introduced by Agriculture Canada in Saskatchewan, so it has to be hardy! "Rudolf" is another tree with nice foliage colour.
The foliage is a glossy bronze/green that turns orange/yellow in fall. In spring, the show starts with fragrant, clear reddish pink blossoms that later produce cherry red fruit that persists until early winter. It would make an excellent "specimen" tree because of its upright. rounded shape. A compact, upright tree, "Thunderchild" has dark pink flowers and purple foliage that turns orange/yellow in fall, and small red fruit.
This tree is another introduction from Saskatchewan. Another Canadian introduction that is a little different from the other flowering crab-apples is "Spring Snow." That is because this variety is a heavy bloomer that has pink buds that open up to fragrant, glistening white flowers, that are later followed by glossy green leaves. What makes it different from the others, besides the white flowers, is the fact that it does not produce fruit. This is good for homeowners that do not want to worry about fruit left on their trees, as well as the mess it can create. This nicely-shaped tree has an upright oval shaped dense crown.
Flowering crab-apples are an attractive addition to any landscape. If you are looking for a beautiful tree that has year-round interest, make sure that you check out the flowering crab-apples.
