Growing Flowering Crabapples

éS^. UNITED STATES HOME AND PREPARED BY M DEPARTMENT OF GARDEN BULLETIN SCIENCE AND AGRICULTURE NUMBER 135 EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION On January 24, 1978, four USDA agencies—Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Cooperative State Research Service (CSRS), Extension Service (ES), and the National Agricultural Library (NAL)—merged to become a new organization, the Science and Education Administration (SEA), U.S. Department of Agriculture. This publication was prepared by the Science and Education Adminis- tration's Federal Research staff, which was formerly the Agricultural Research Service.

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402 Stock No. 001-000-03784-6 GROWING FLOWERING CRABAPPLES

Flowering crabapples are decid- for sale generally are adapted to your uous (leaf-shedding) trees or shrubs. area. You also can ask neighbors Their flowers range from white to which kinds have done well for them. brilliant pink and purple. Or you can ask your county agricul- Fruits, which are pea size to 2 tural agent or your State agricultural inches in diameter, are green, yellow, college to recommend varieties suit- or red. Fruits on some varieties drop in able to your area. the fall; fruits on others cling Some of the more commonly through winter. grown varieties of crabapples are Some flowering crabapples are described in this section. Crabapple suited to one-story houses and small flowers are single, semidouble, or yards as well as to large estates, double. Single flowers have five pet- parks, and highway plantings. als. Semidouble flowers have 6 to 11 Since flowering crabapples require petals. Double flowers have 12 or about 50 cumulative days of under 45° more petals. F to break their dormancy, many of them do not grow well in areas where Aidenham winters are mild. Flowering crabapples grow well in Aldenham (Malus x purpurea 'Al- most kinds of soil and often do well on denhamensis') is a spreading shrub or very poor soil. They need good soil small tree that grows 10 to 15 feet tall. drainage, however, and watering Its flowers are single and semi- during periods of drought. double, red to purplish red, and 1 to 1- You can grow flowering crabapples 1/2 inches across. They bloom successfully if you— annually, except in extreme southern • Buy nursery-grown trees. areas. • Plant them in late winter or early Its leaves first are reddish or pur- spring. plish bronze; they turn green. • Prepare planting holes carefully; Fruits are purple to brownish be sure the planting site is well purple and 3/4 inch across. drained. • Maintain a mulch around the Arnold trees or shrubs. • Water them during dry periods. Arnold {Malus x arnoldiana) is an upright, spreading shrub or small tree VARIETIES that grows 10 to 15 feet tall. Its flowers are single, pinkish white You can ask a reputable nurs- to white, and about 2 inches across. eryman in your area to recommend They blossom heavier in alternate species or varieties; the plants he has years. SINGLE SEMIDOUBLE DOUBLE

Fruits are yellow with a reddish tint about 2 inches across. They bloom and up to 1/2 inch across. heavier in alternate years. Fruits are red, cone shaped, and 1 to Bechtel 1-1/2 inches across. Bechtel {Malus ioensis 'Plena') is an upright, spreading tree that grows 10 Dorothea to 15 feet tall. Its flowers are double, pink or pink Dorothea {Malus 'Dorothea") is an rose, and about 2 inches across. They upright, spreading shrub or small bloom annually, except in extreme tree. It is 10 to 15 feet tall when fully southern areas. grown. Bechtel rarely produces fruits. Its flowers are semidouble or dou- ble, rose pink, and about 2 inches Carmine across. They bloom annually. Fruits are yellow to orange yellow, Carmine (Malus x atrosanguinea) is and 1/2 inch across. an upright, spreading shrub or tree that grows 10 to 15 feet tall. Its flowers are single, rose or rose Eleyi pink, and up to 1 inch across. They bloom annually. Eleyi {Malus xpupurea 'Eleyi') is a n Its leaves are glossy dark green. upright, spreading, and round- Fruits are usually yellow to red, and headed tree that grows 10 to 20 feet tall. up to 1/2 inch across. Its flowers are single, red to pur- Dolgo plish red, and about 1-1/2 inches across. They bloom heavier in alter- Dolgo {Malus 'Dolgo') is an nate years. upright, spreading, and roundheaded Fruits are red to purple and 1/2 to 1 tree that grows 10 to 20 feet tall. inch across. Leaves turn from Its flowers are single, white, and reddish or purplish bronze to green. Japanese (Flowering) Lemoinei Japanese {Malus floribunda) is an Lemoinei (Malus xpurpurea 'Lem- upright, spreading shrub or tree that oinei') is an upright, spreading shrub grows 10 to 15 feet tall. or small tree that grows 10 to 15 feet Its flowers are single, red to tall. pinkish white, and 1 to 1-1/2 inches Its flowers are single and semi- across. Blooming is good in southern double, red or purplish red, and areas. about 1-1/2 inches across. They Fruits are yellow, brownish or bloom annually, except in the lower reddish, and about 1/2 inch across. South. Fruits are dark red and 1/2 to I Katherine inch across. Reddish or purple- bronze leaves turn green. Katherine (Malus 'Katherine') is an upright, spreading shrub that grows 10 to 15 feet tall. Its flowers are semidouble or dou- l\/lidget ble, pink to pinkish white, and about 2 Midget (Malus x micromalus) is an inches across. They bloom heavier in upright, spreading shrub or small tree alternate years. that grows 10 to 15 feet tall. Fruits are greenish yellow and up to Its flowers are single, pink, and 1- 1/2 inch across. 1/2 to 2 inches across. They bloom

B.\-3üJ98 Japanese (flowering) crabapple. heavier in alternate years and poorly in northern areas, blossoms are heavier lower southern areas. in alternate years; blossoming is poor Fruits are yellow, and 1/2 to 1 inch in southern areas. across. Fruits are red and up to 1/2 inch across. Parkman Parkman (Af. halliana var. Park- Sargent manii) is a slow-growing shrub or small tree that grows 6 to 7 feet tall. Sargent {Malus sargentiî) is a Its flowers are double, pink to rose spreading shrub that rarely grows pink, and about 1 inch across. They over 7 feet tall. bloom annually. Its flowers are single, white, and Fruits are reddish brown, and less about 1 inch across. They bloom than 1/2 inch across. heavier in alternate years. Fruits are red or purplish red and about 1/3 inch across. Pink Weeper Scheidecker Pink Weeper {Malus 'Oe- konomierat Echtermeyer') is a Scheidecker {Malus x scheideckeri) weeping shrub or small tree that is an upright shrub or small tree that grows 10 to 15 feet tall. grows 10 to 15 feet tall. Its flowers are single, purplish red, Its flowers are semidouble or dou- and about 1-1/2 inches across. They ble, pink, and 1 to 1-1/2 inches bloom annually. across. They bloom heavier in alter- Fruits are purple to purplish nate years. brown, and about 1 inch across. Fruits are yellow and about 1 / 2 inch Leaves turn from reddish or purpHsh across. bronze to green. Tea Prince Georges Tea {Malus hupehensis) is an upright, spreading, and V-shaped tree Prince Georges {Malus 'Prince that grows 10 to 15 feet tall. Georges') is an upright, dense, and Its flowers are single, pink to roundheaded shrub or small tree that white, and about 1-1/2 inches across. grows 10 to 15 feet tall. The bloom is heavier in alternate Its flowers are double, rose pink, years. and about 2 inches across. Fruits are greenish yellow with a Prince Georges does not bear fruit. reddish tint, and about 3/8 inch across. Redbud (Crabapple)

Redbud (Afa/w5zwm/'Calocarpa')is Van Eseltine an upright, spreading tree that grows 10 to 15 feet tall. Van Eseltine {Malus *Van Eseltine') Its flowers are single, pinkish to is an upright, V-shaped tree that white, and about 1 inch across. In grows 10 to 15 feet tall.

6 should be spread out in a natural position in a hole of sufficient size. They should not be bent or crowded. If you buy them balled and bur- lapped, do not remove the burlap before setting the tree or shrub in the hole. After the plant is in place, cut the twine around the top of the rootball and fold back or cut off exposed parts of the burlap. Plant the tree or shrub so that the roots are slightly higher than they were in the nursery. Then refill the hole with topsoil and press the soil firmly around the roots. Finally, water the plant thoroughly. After the plant has settled, it

BN-30399 should be about the same depth or Van Eseltine fruits. slightly higher than it was before transplanting. Stake and brace crabapple trees at planting time. This prevents root Its flowers are double, rose pink to pale pink, and 1-1/2 to 2 inches damage that often occurs if you drive stakes later. across. They bloom heavier in alter- nate years. Fruits are yellow or red, and 1 / 2 to 1 inch across. CARE OF TREES

PLANTING Mulching The best time to plant flowering After planting, cover the soil under crabapples is in late winter or early the branches with a mulching mate- spring before growth begins. rial—peat moss, bark, or leaves. The planting site should be well Apply a layer about 3 inches deep and drained and provide sufficient add new mulching materials growing space—at least 150 square annually to maintain the mulch. feet for the small species and 300 to 500 Mulching helps keep the soil moist; square feet for larger species. and as the mulching material decays, it Dig a planting hole at least 18 releases some nutrients for use by the inches deep and twice the diameter of crabapple tree or shrub. the rootball or spread of the roots. Weeding Crabapples often are sold bareroot. When planting, damaged roots and If you maintain an adequate mulch branches should be removed and part around crabapple trees or shrubs, few of the longer branches cut back to weeds will grow. Those that do can be establish a better balance between the pulled easily by hand. Be careful if you crown and root system. The roots use a hoe or other weeding tool around Set tree slightly higher than it stood in the nursery.

Pacic soil firmly ~ about roots.

Malee hole large enough to Tree set too shallow. Roots crowded and turned spread roots naturally. up. crabapples; you may harm the shallow cause excessive vegetative growth at roots. the expense of flower production. Very poor soil will produce Watering unhealthy, disease-prone plants. Use 2 pounds of fertilizer per inch of Crabapples are fairly drought resistant, and 12 to 15 inches of rain trunk diameter. Spread the fertilizer in during the growing season usually is a band 2 or 3 feet wide under the ends of the branches. (Do not let the adequate for good growth. During fertilizer touch the trunk.) Then droughts, however, the plants should thoroughly soak the fertilizer into the be watered at weekly intervals. When ground. you water, soak the root area thor- oughly. Be careful that you do not drown trees or shrubs growing in Pruning poorly drained soil. Heavy pruning of crabapples can ruin their natural appearance and result in an excessive number of Fertilizing shoots. The only pruning normally If crabapples are planted in reason- needed is to remove (1) shoots at the ably fertile soil that is well supplied base of the trunk, (2) shoots at the top with organic matter, they seldom of the plant, and (3) branches that are need fertiUzing. dead, diseased, or broken. The best If you want to stimulate growth of time to prune crabapples is in winter. crabapples after they have recovered Coat all pruning cuts that are an from transplanting or if they show inch or more across with clear shellac. signs that the soil is infertile (small, pale leaves and annual twig growth of less than 5 inches), apply the same DISEASES AND INSECTS fertilizer that you use for your lawn or Few diseases and insects attack garden. Apply it once between late flowering crabapples, but some can winter and early summer. seriously disfigure or kill the trees. Too much available food may Inspect your crabapple trees fre- quently for signs of diseases and bacteria overwinter in these cankers insects described in this section. See and are a source of infection the fol- your county agricultural agent or lowing year. State agricultural experiment station Apple Scab for information on how to control diseases and insects. Apple scab is a fungus disease that infects the leaves and twigs. The dis- ease appears on leaves as dark-green, Diseases velvety spots. The fungus overwinters in fallen leaves and reinfects trees Powdery Mildew during rainy weather in the spring. Powdery mildew is a common fungus disease, particularly in humid areas. Crabapples usually survive it Insects without much damage. The disease is characterized by a white moldy Aphids growth that disfigures the leaves and Aphids, or plant Hce, are usually stems. green but may be brown or black. Cedar Apple Rust Their presence is frequently accom- panied by large numbers of ants. Cedar apple rust is a fungus disease Usually, aphids attack the leaves of that originates on cedar trees and flowering crabapple. They suck juice infects flowering crabapples. from the leaves and make them The disease appears first as yellow crinkle or curl downward. Some- spots on the upper surfaces of leaves. times, aphids attack shoots that These spots enlarge, turn orange, and develop late in the season and water develop small black specks in their sprouts that grow from the base of the centers. Blisters form in the leaf tissue trunk or from below ground. The under the spots. Severely infected woolly apple aphid, which is bluish leaves become distorted and fall from black and has a white wax covering, the plant. sometimes is found in cracks or pruning wounds. Fire Blight Fire blight is a bacterial disease that Spider Mites may severely damage susceptible Spider mites are red or greenish- varieties of flowering crabapple. red pests that feed on the underside Some varieties are immune to fire of leaves. They are barely visible to blight. the naked eye but sometimes can be Infected leaves turn brown or black detected by fine webs on the under- and eventually dry up; they remain sides of leaves. attached to the branch. The bark on Infested leaves become yellow, infected twigs becomes dark and gray, or brownish, and flowers sunken. A milky or brownish ooze become discolored or faded. Severely may form on the infection. infested trees become stunted. Spider Cankers form where the disease mites frequently attack severely enters a large branch or a trunk. The during dry years. Caterpillars Flathead Apple Tree Borer Tent caterpillars and fall web- The adult borers are metallic olive- worms attack flowering crabapples. gray or brown beetles about 1/2 inch Tent caterpillars are hairy black long. They appear on tree trunks in worms. They have a white stripe and a May or June. Larvae are slender, yel- row of blue spots on their back and low-white grubs about 1-1/4 inches brown and yellow lines along each long. They have a broad and flattened side. They are about 2 inches long. body enlargement behind their small Tent caterpillars feed on young leaves brown head. in the spring. They live in webs in the Larvae tunnel in the bark and sap- crotches of trees at night and feed wood of trees. The bark over tunneled during the day. areas becomes discolored and Fall webworms are pale green or shriveled and finally dies. yellow and have a dark stripe down Newly transplanted trees that are their back and a yellow stripe along infested often die the first year after each side. They are about 1 inch long. transplanting. Damage to established Webworms feed on leaves from May trees is worst during dry weather, to September. They form loose, particularly on trunks exposed to the unsightly webs at the ends of sun after excessive pruning. branches.

10 Reviewed by Erik A. Neumann, SEA Curator of Education, U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, D.C. 20002

Department publications contain public information. They are not copyrighted and can be reproduced in whole or in part with or without credit.

Washington, D.C. Revised May 1978

TÎr U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1978 O—264-926

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