Flowering crabapple trees (Malus spp.) are ornamental trees, related to apple trees, but bearing smaller fruits. Crabapple trees are valued for their spectacular spring blooms, tree form, ornamental fruit and colorful autumn foliage. Many crabapple varieties are hardy, drought-tolerant, disease resistant, adaptable to various soil types, and grow to a mature height of less than 20 feet, suitable for small spaces. Because crabapple trees vary in their growth habits, they develop different shapes or forms, providing a basis for their categorization.
Upright crabapple trees are taller than they are wide, such as "Adirondack" (Malus "Adirondack") and "Red Jewel" (Malus "Red Jewel"). Both varieties grow well in U.S. Department of Agricultural plant hardiness zones 4 through 8. "Adirondack" has a strong upright form and dense canopy, reaching a mature height of 18 feet and width of 10 feet. Among crabapple varieties, "Adirondack" produces one of the heaviest flower displays, covering itself with fragrant white blooms in spring. "Adirondack" is also highly disease resistant. "Red Jewel" offers white flowers and an oval or pyramidal shape, growing up to 15 feet high and 12 feet wide. It is also disease resistant, but is less resistant to fire blight than "Adirondack."
Crabapple trees that grow wider than tall are said to have a "horizontal" or "spreading" form. "Strawberry Parfait" (Malus "Strawberry Parfait") can reach a mature height of 18 feet and a width of 20 feet. It blooms with large pink flowers and reddish leaves emerge in spring that later turn green. "Strawberry Parfait" is highly disease resistant and grows well in USDA zones 4 through 8.
Crabapple trees with a rounded form are usually as tall as they are wide. "Coralburst" (Malus "Coralburst"), "Indian Summer" (Malus "Indian Summer") and "Royalty" (Malus "Royalty") all have rounded forms and thrive in USDA zones 4 through 8. "Coralburst" displays pink double blooms in spring and grows in a compact, dense, rounded shape, reaching 12 to 15 feet tall and wide at maturity. "Indian Summer" offers rose red flowers and matures to 18 feet by 18 feet, while "Royalty" displays purple flowers and reaches 15 feet by 15 feet at maturity.. Although overall these crabapple trees have good disease resistance, they are somewhat susceptible to apple scab, with "Royalty" the most susceptible.
Crabapple tree varieties that come in dwarf forms are also suitable as patio trees, growing in containers. Sargent (Malus sargentii), "Jewelberry" (Malus "Jewelberry") and Sargent "Tina" (Malus sargentii "Tina") are dwarf crabapple varieties that thrive in USDA zones 4 through 8. Sargent and "Jewelberry" are horizontal or spreading dwarf crabapple trees, growing up to 8 feet high and 12 feet wide. Sargent "Tina" grows to a compact rounded form of 5 feet high and wide. All three crabapple varieties display showy white flowers in spring. Sargent and Sargent "Tina" have outstanding disease resistance, while "Jewelberry" is a bit more susceptible to apple scab and fire blight.
Molten Lava (Malus "Molazam") is a hardy, weeping crabapple tree, growing well in USDA zones 4 through 8. It reaches about 12 feet high and wide and its weeping branches are smothered in white early-spring flowers, followed by abundant red fruit. Molten Lava is highly disease resistant.
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