Flowering Crabapple
Malus spp. · Deciduous broadleaf, hardwood, small ornamental fruit tree
Plant Family
Rosaceae (Rose Family)
Tree Category
Ornamental / Flowering Tree / Small Fruit Tree
Variety / Cultivar
Unspecified Malus cultivar (likely a older purple-fruiting ornamental variety such as 'Prairifire', 'Robinson', or 'Thunderchild')
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 8; cold tolerant down to -30°F (-34°C); well-adapted to cold-winter temperate regions.
About This Tree
A small to medium-sized mature deciduous ornamental tree with a gnarled, spreading, irregular broad canopy. The main trunk features thick, deeply ridged and scaly, rough greyish-brown bark. The scaffolding limbs twist horizontally and horizontally-upwards, bearing simple dark green leaves with reddish petioles and small reddish-purple pome fruits visible hanging on short spurs. Shows evidence of heavy historical pruning or pollarding at major branch tips.
Leaf Characteristics
Simple, alternate, ovate to elliptic shape with finely serrated margins. Deep green upper surface, paler underneath, with prominent central midrib and slight reddish tint on petiole stem and young reddish-purple terminal leaves.
Bark Characteristics
Greyish-brown to dark brown, rough, textured with age into vertical plates, deep fissures, and scaly ridges; younger twigs are smoother and reddish-brown.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere (Europe, Asia, North America); widely planted throughout temperate urban and suburban landscapes worldwide
Growing Season
Leafs out in early spring (April); flowers bloom profusely in spring (April-May); small pome fruits develop in summer and ripen in late summer to autumn; leaf drop and dormancy occur in late autumn (October-November)
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (6+ hours direct sunlight daily) for best flowering and fruiting. Prefers medium moisture, well-drained loamy soils; moderate drought tolerance once mature.
Mature Size
Typically 15-25 feet tall with a spread of 15-25 feet; slow to moderate growth rate; lifespan of 40-70 years; mature trunk diameter of 10-18 inches.
Special Characteristics
Produces showy spring blossoms (pink or white) followed by colorful persistent ornamental crabapples; high ornamental value; wood is dense and suitable for smoking meats.
Wildlife & Ecology
Spring flowers provide abundant nectar and pollen for honeybees, bumblebees, and native pollinators. Small crabapple fruits serve as an vital fall and winter food source for songbirds (cedar waxwings, robins, cardinals) and small mammals.