Use them for juice or jelly. It grows in USDA zones 5 to 8, making it slightly less cold hardy than other varieties. Most crabapple trees do not grow terribly fast, but there are exceptions to the rule. For example, the European crabapple (Malus sylvestris) reaches a height of 25 to 30 feet … Many other varieties of crabapple are also well worth growing. Some crabapple varieties grow as fast as 36 inches per year. Generally speaking, you can expect one of these trees to grow one-to-two feet per year. Some have lobes; some do not. Learn more about Monrovia plants and best practices for best possible plant performance. Smaller, dwarf versions reach 4 to 10 feet in height and may even be placed in containers. Most are upright of rounded and spreading habit but there are also columnar, vase-shaped or weeping varieties of great beauty. Some common fungal diseases include rust which causes yellow or orange spots on the leaves as well as scab which causes a green fungal growth on the leaves which then drop off the tree. The columnar crabapple (Malus baccata 'Columnaris') also grows at a rate of 24 inches per year. Prune the trees annually in the winter. They thrive best in USDA growing zones 4-8 and prefer full sunlight exposure, but can also tolerate being planting partial sunlight. The disease kills flowers and leaves and causes the branches to turn brown or black and curl up. Maureen Malone has been a professional writer since 2010 She is located in Tucson, Arizona where she enjoys hiking, horseback riding and martial arts. The trees usually live 50 to 150 years. They start out light green, turning medium to dark green and then yellow in the fall. The main distinguishing difference between the two is that crabapple trees produce apples that are less than 2 inches in diameter. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →, crabapple tree image by A74.FR Ben Fontaine from, University of Maine Cooperative Extension: Wild Apple Trees for Wildlife, Ohio State University Extension: Selection, Care, and Use of the Ornamental Crabapple. Annual pruning and fertilization is necessary as well, although excessive fertilization increases susceptibility to diseases such as fire blight. Remove any affected parts of the tree. The smallest crabapples are the most useful of all flowering crabapples because they fit in almost any decent space. When attempting crabapple tree identification, you can distinguish crabapples from regular apple trees by the size of the fruits, notes Iowa State University Extension. Best grown in medium moisture, well-drained, acidic loams in full sun (6-8 hours a day). Sargent The ornamental Sargent crabapple, Malus sargentii, possesses a slow rate of growth which, according to the Arbor Day Foundation, denotes a tree that grows 12 … • Water. This fungus can also cause frogeye leaf spot. This variety is also more cold hardy, growing in USDA zones 3 to 8. They grow best within U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 to 8, where they will swiftly reach a mature height of 20 to 40 feet in just a few years. Crabapple trees have a juvenile period which can last 10 years. to your landscape. Another cultivar that grows at a rate of just 12 inches per year is the Red-Jade crabapple (Malus 'Red Jade'). Plant this flowering crabapple tree anytime between the last frost in spring and about three weeks before the first hard frost in fall. In the spring, the red, pink, or white flowers perfume the air with a sweet fragrance. It grows in USDA zones 4 to 8. There are two cultivars of crabapple that fit this category. Mature trees reach a height of up to 20 feet. Before pruning, be sure to disinfect your pruning tools to avoid spreading disease, advises the University of Florida IFAS Extension. She is an outdoor lover who spends her weekends tending her raised garden and small orchard of fruit trees. Despite all of the outside beauty of this tree, it is the physical tree structure that really makes Royal Raindrops flowering crabapple special. Do crab apple trees grow fast? Tall varieties such as the Dolgo reach a 25 foot height at maturity, but most varieties attain a final height of only 12 to 20 feet. Crabapples are edible, but are not as tasty as other apple species and may be too small to use. Crabapple tree fruit is less than 2 inches in diameter, while other apples are larger in size. Love Flowering Crabapple trees but hate the mess the fruit leaves behind? The "molten lava" crabapple tree is an example of a weeping-spreading tree. Crabapple trees need full sun and moist, well-drained, acidic soil. The flowers contain chemicals that are precursors to the poison cyanide. The fungus Botryosphaeria can result in cankers that cause the leaves and branches to die back. They can grow to heights of 15 to 40 feet, with an equal spread. Established Flowering Crabapple Trees – Crabapple trees are drought-resistant once established, but they grow best if you water them when there is less than an inch (2.5 cm.) ... Fast growing, upright tree; reaches 20 ft. tall and wide. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. Prune away damaged areas and remove neighboring plants susceptible to the disease. This colourful crab apple has a good conical shape. The red fruit is an important food for many species of wildlife. Stunning Crabapple Blooms Without the Mess! Malus ‘Winter Gold’ – with white spring flowers and yellow fruit; the dark green leaves have good autumn colouring. Growing in USDA zones 4 to 8, this variety grows 36 inches per year to reach a height of 15 to 30 feet with a spread of 10 to 20 feet. It depends. These apples are edible, albeit tart. Many crabapple cultivars grow at a greater rate of 13 to 24 inches per year. These trees make the list because of their non-invasive roots or low-maintenance cleanup. The buds open into 1.5-inch blossoms that blanket the tree in a brilliant splash of vibrant hot-pink. The flowering tea crabapple (Malus hupehensis), hardy in USDA zones 5 to 8, grows at a rate of 24 inches per year. There are different varieties of crabapple trees, so you have choices on how tall a tree you want the leaf and flower color. Too much water and fertilizer may increase susceptibility, but select disease resistance cultivars if possible. This Crabapple is a real beauty! Oak (Zones 8-10): A fast-growing, beloved tree notorious for causing foundational damage; Best Trees to Plant Near a House. And while perhaps sour fruits don’t appeal to you, there are plenty of things you can do with crabapple fruit! • Soil. Plus, it helps that they’re all beautiful trees! The flowers are white, pink, purple or red. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Crabapple Care As a cold-tolerant tree, Prairifire Crabapple is a perennial in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 4 through 8. Ideally, the trees prefer well-drained soil with a slightly acidic pH level. Order your fresh Profusion Crabapple tree online today for fast doorstep delivery. This varies depending on the species. Special Features & Videos on Crabapple Trees. These growing practices help keep it in optimal health: • Sun. If you have more space, the Japanese flowering crabapple (Malus floribunda) is a broader tree, with long arching branches, that reaches 3–5m tall and 5–6m wide.Although often grown as a specimen tree, it can be clipped to about 2.5m high, as a hedge. For other landscaping trees, see this article on fast growing trees. This tree is a hybrid of Malus baccata and Malus floribunda and grows 15 feet tall and 25 feet wide. Flowering Crabapple: Large crop of small fruit that persists into winter providing food for wildlife. 5 Benefits of Growing Crabapple Trees. A beautiful flowering crabapple tree that is disease resistant and looks spectacular all year long. Sparse foliage is an indication that the tree is in decline. After 10 years your tree should flower and fruit if it is healthy. Monrovia's Snowdrift Flowering Crabapple details and information. Symptoms include leaf spots with a purple border, followed by yellowed leaves that fall from the tree. [1] X Research source You can substitute leaf mold compost if you prefer. Crabapple trees are popular ornamental trees because of their easy maintenance and visual appeal throughout the seasons, according to Colorado State University Extension. The leaves range from green to purple. The specific pace, tree size and form depends largely on which of the many varieties of crabapple is being addressed. Consider adding mulch around the tree to help keep the soil moist. Enjoy crabapple blossoms in the spring. PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS. Click to see full answer Likewise, how wide do crabapple trees get? Poor growing conditions may affect both the growth rate and the mature size reached by the crabapple tree. Look no further than the Spring Snow Flowering Crabapple. (6 m.). A fungicide can help control these diseases if they are severe. Plant at least 2 different apple or crabapple varieties within close proximity to each other for pollination. These trees have a slow to medium growth rate and are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 4 to 8. Be sure the trees are getting enough water and prune away affected areas. Crabapple trees only need fertilizer once per year. It spreads 18 to 30 feet wide. Use a balanced fertilizer and follow the package instructions. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! How to grow Sugar Tyme Crabapple: Sugar Tyme crabapples are most successful when planted in well-drained acidic soil. Features simple, oval leaves that are 2–4" long with fine serrations. They are generally tolerant of urban environments and can grow in a range of soil types and pH and fertility levels. Crabapple trees grow 8 to 10 inches per year, according to Clemson University Extension. layer of mulch applied every spring provides sufficient nutrients for a crabapple tree. This is also the time to shape the tree if desired. A full sun lover, this tree is easily grown in moderately fertile, well-drained soils. This tree grows at a medium rate, with height increases of 13–24" per year. Some crab apple trees grow faster than others. Where the plant suppresses flowers and fruit so that the tree can become established, put out strong roots and grow properly. The Robinson Crabapple tree (Malus 'Robinson') is famously known for its eye catching pink flowers that bloom in early spring and red-purple fruit.The Robinsons are not only a favorite of birds and butterflies, they’re also pest and disease resistant. Crabapple trees grow 8 to 10 inches per year, according to Clemson University Extension. For spring flowers and fall colors, consider adding a crabapple tree (Malus spp.) If you are irrigating, place the hose at the base of the tree and allow the water to run slowly and soak into the ground, advises Allisonville Home and Garden. Another example of a faster-growing crabapple is the Red-Silver crabapple (Malus 'Red Silver'). Specimen trees that you choose to showcase in your front yard should look sharp in all seasons, and Robinson Crabapple is ready to step into that role. This tree only reaches 6 to 10 feet tall with a spread of 6 to 12 feet. This tree grows 15 to 20 feet tall with a spread of 15 feet. Tree borers also limit life span but are prevented with adequate but not excessive watering and good care. Special Plant Features & Tips. Cooking and adding sugar will improve the palatability of the crabapple, and some gardeners enjoy using the fruit to make jams or jellies. Crabapple trees are susceptible to many diseases. Sugar Tyme crabapples thrive in full sun. 1. Royal Raindrops flowering crabapple is suitable for growing in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 through 8. Strong branches and an upright growth habit means that it doesn't need a lot of pruning to grow into a balanced canopy. Remove suckers and shoots from the base of the tree as well as any dead or damaged branches. of rain in a week during summer. Cankers may form and leak liquid during the winter months. The fruit color may be green, gold, red or burgundy, depending on the cultivar. The Arnold crabapple (Malus 'Arnoldiana') also grows in USDA zones 5 to 8 at a rate of 36 inches per year. Fire blight, caused by the bacteria Erwinia amylovora_,_ is common, notes PennState Extension. Crabapple trees grow 8 to 10 inches per year, according to Clemson University Extension. Prairifire Crabapple is adapted to a wide range of soil types. It grows at a slow rate of fewer than 12 inches per year, advises Arbor Day Foundation. Once established, it is drought tolerant. The Sargent crabapple (Malus sargentii), hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8, is one of the slower-growing trees. Adapts to a wide range of soils. Add two to three handfuls of peat-free compost to the container, and combine the two fully. The Cleveland Pear Tree grows uniformly, so even if you choose to plant rows of these, most will grow evenly to reach between 30 and 40 feet tall and 15 and 20 feet wide. This species reaches a height 15 to 20 feet and a spread of 20 feet. 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