Crabapple

Crabapples are one of my favorite spring-blooming trees. This week’s plant is closely related to apples, but they have smaller edible fruits and offer various bloom colors, sizes, shapes, and leaf colors. Crabapples bloom from April through May, depending on the variety and the spring weather. One thing I love about crabapples is their versatility in bloom, color, and shape. Do you need a tree for a small space, one that is tall and slender, or one with a weeping form? There is a crabapple variety that will work in that location. Bloom ranges from white to pink to purple to red and can be single, semi-double, or double blooms. The fruit on crabapples is edible; some varieties can be showy, and the larger fruited varieties are often used for making jams and jellies. Crabapple leaves range from green to dark purple to bronze in color, and some varieties have showy red or yellow foliage in the fall, giving crabapples several seasons of interest. Crabapples have a few disease issues, such as fireblight and cedar apple rust. But overall, they are relatively healthy and issue-free. Consider throwing a crab apple into the mix if you want a spring-blooming tree to replace your pear.

 

Have questions? Contact our office where our Horticulture Extension Agent will assist you with questions.

Phone: (316) 321-9660

Email: callae@ksu.edu