Crabapple Tree
Rating: 5
Size: small varieties 10-15 ft and medium sized varieties 15-20 ft
Lifespan: 30-70 years
Shade: Medium to dense shade depending on variety
Type: deciduous hardwood slow to moderate growth speed
Crabapples are planted because like the Eastern Redbud and flowering cherry and plum trees, they provide abundant beauty in spring. The crabapple produces small berry like apples that stay on the tree through winter and provide food for birds.
There are over 50 varieties of crab apples and they come in various flower colors ranging from white to dark pink (same color as Eastern rosebud tree flowers). Most trees are smaller and are used in landscaping as ornamental trees. Popular varieties include the dark pink flowered prarifire and the brilliant white Spring Snow variety (Spring Snow tree is hardy and needs little water). The bark and leaves look very much like a regular apple tree.
Like apple trees, crabapples are subject to same diseases and pests, including fire blight, aphids,powdery mildew, and apple borer.