Continuing Education and
Communication Services
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
10/22/01
Contacts:
James Romer, Horticulture Extension, (515) 294-2336, jromer@iastate.edu
Del Marks, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515) 294-9807,
delmarks@iastate.edu
Yard and Garden Column for the Week Beginning Oct. 26
Ask Dr. Grow-It-All: Crabapples
By James Romer
Extension horticulturist
Iowa State University Extension
While the Plant Guy is off on other assignments, Dr. Grow-It-All has been found to fill in until he returns.
Dear Dr. Grow-It-All:
Help! I have a neighbor who has a crabapple tree. To sum up my feelings,
it was the best of trees; it was the worst of trees. In the spring, no
other tree on the block could match the spectacular display of flowers.
Unfortunately, several large branches hung over my fence and dropped copious
amounts of apples on my lawn in mid-summer. I could have started my own
insectary with all of the yellow jackets that were attracted to the rotten
fruit! However, to my good fortune, the tree finally gave up the ghost
this summer.
Now, through the local grapevine, I have heard my neighbor wants to plant
the same selection in the same place as the old one that so smugly left
its calling card on my lawn! Dr. Grow-It-All, don't get me wrong, I love
trees just like anyone else. In fact, I want to enroll in the Tree Steward
Program some day. Can you give me some crabapple selections that I might
suggest to him?
Full of Malice for Malus in Mallard
Dear Malice:
So, you're my next door neighbor. Seriously, let's get to the core of
your question. There are many selections of crabapples to choose from
in the marketplace that will retain their fruit and have spectacular displays
of flowers in the spring.
By definition, crabapple fruits are less than 2 inches in diameter. Fruits any larger would be considered apples. Some selections retain their fruit until early spring. By that time, the fruit has shriveled and essentially disintegrates not causing ill-will amongst anyone. There are selections that birds prefer, which helps to reduce potential fruit litter.
Also, there is a wide variety of crabapple fruit colors. Crabapple fruit can be lime green, amber, gold, yellow, orange, red, dark red or purple colored. I have listed some selections below that have wonderful fall fruit displays, but retain their fruit. Birds prefer most of the selections listed. Those that aren't preferred by birds are noted.
| Selection | Fruit Color/Persistence |
| Malus x 'Adirondack' | Red-orange red, persists until late winter |
| Malus 'Donald Wyman' | Bright red, persists until spring (not preferred by birds) |
| Malus Harvest Gold® | Banana-yellow turns gold, persists into |
| Malus 'Indian Magic' | Glossy red changing to orange in the fall, persists until spring |
| Malus 'Mary Potter' | Red, persists into winter |
| Malus 'Ormiston Roy' | Yellow with orange blush, persists into late winter |
| Malus 'Prairifire' | Deep purple-red, persists through winter |
| Malus 'Profusion' | Oxblood-red, persists into winter |
| Malus Red Jewel® | Bright, cherry red, persists until spring (not preferred by birds) |
| Malus 'Red Splendor' | Dark red, persists until early winter |
| Malus sargentii (Sargent Crabapple) | Dark red, persists until frost |
| Malus x zumi Winter Gem™ | Red, persists through winter |
Another option for your neighbor might be to plant a less heavily fruited or fruitless crabapple selection. However, some have problems with disease resistance and one may be missing out on another fantastic ornamental characteristic of the flowering crabapple. I have listed a few selections below for your consideration.
| Selection | Notes |
| Malus Coralburst | Few fruit produced, resistant to apple scrab |
| Malus x 'Spring Snow' | Few to no fruit produced, susceptible to apple scab |
| Malus Velvet Pillar™ | Fruit is sparse, highly susceptible to apple scab |
Dear Dr. Grow-It-All:
I live in a house with a small front yard, but I love crabapple trees.
No tree is more ornamental with regards to flower and fruit. Some selections
have fall foliage color. I know that I can't turn my yard into Crablandia,
but could you offer me some selections of crabapples that are dwarf in
form or those that have an upright growth habit? Dr. Grow-It-All, is there
any hope?
Pressed for Space in Prescott
Dear Pressed:
Don't give up hope! The crabapple has several different growth forms that
would be perfect for your limited space. I have listed some selections
below that you can incorporate into your landscape without sacrificing
vast expanses of land.
| Selection | Growth, Habit, Spread |
| Malus x 'Adirondack' | Upright branching, 10 foot spread |
| Malus Centurion® | Upright and open, rounding with age, 15 foot spread |
| Malus Cinderella® | Upright-oval, 5 foot spread |
| Malus Lancelot® | Oval-upright, 8 foot spread |
| Malus 'Pink Spires' | Upright, 12 foot spread |
| Malus Red Jewel® | Upright, pyramidal 12 foot spread |
-30-
ml: isugarden
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