Carefree Crabapples for the Garden by Nancy Buley

Carefree crabapples for the garden By Nancy Buley

hink of spring in the garden, and ornamental flowering Tcrabapples come to mind. Clouds of fragrant blossoms sus- Nancy Buley. pended over sweeping beds of daf- fodils, tulips, primroses and violets

are a sight to behold. Photo by The spring show of blooms ranges in color from snow white to pastel pinks to magenta and deep carmine. Modern, disease-resistant varieties sport bright, healthy sum- mer foliage in colors that range from bright green to bronze-green Photo courtesy of J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co. to deep purple. The fallen leaves of autumn reveal branches laden Birds eat the fruit of these all-season ornamental trees; (r) ‘Sugar Tyme’ with sparkling fruits that birds find to be irresistible. Tiny apples rang- Take the advice of Alan Branhagen says. “Because the of 100 trees to Powell Gardens ing in color from bright yellow Branhagen, Director of ornamental appeal of the fruits for planting in their beautiful new and gold to shades of orange, red Horticulture at Powell Gardens of lasts for months, I select the cul- wildflower meadow will help and purple, linger late into the sea- Kingsville, Mo. He is an ardent tivars based first on their fruiting determine the best performers for son, providing winter interest as admirer and enthusiastic champion nature, then by foliage. Flower the Kansas City metropolitan area well as an important food source of these all-season ornamental color is my third consideration. and other regions with similar for birds and other wildlife. trees. Most of the newer selections are growing conditions. We anticipate With so many cultivars avail- “Crabapples are surely one very resistant to foliar diseases that all will perform very well. able, how can you possibly decide of the finest ornamental trees for that plagued older varieties.” Time will tell, and we look for- which is best for your garden? songbirds in the fall and winter,’ In celebration of Earth Day ward to receiving feedback from 2007, Powell Garden volunteers Powell Gardens and sharing it planted five each of 20 crabapples with the local gardening commu- a mix of new and time-tested cul- nity. tivars. All are notable for good to Branhagen claims great fond- excellent disease resistance and ness for the species types – flo- clean, healthy foliage. All have ribunda and its derivatives, and FRIENDS OF THE ARBORETUM small, persistent fruits that are Sargent and cultivars derived highly decorative in fall and win- from this excellent species. These ter, and attractive to wildlife. include diminutive cultivars such Spring Plant Sale The bare root trees were donat- as Candymint, Pink Princess and ed by J. Frank Schmidt & Son Firebird®. He’s fond of Zumi, Thursday, May 8, 4-7 pm Co., a wholesale propagator of and the horizontally spreading Tea shade and flowering trees located crabs (Malus hupehensis), such as in Boring, Oregon. As propagators Strawberry Parfait. Harvest Gold® Preview Sale & Reception of more than 60 modern, disease- is one of his favorites, appreciated (Friends of the resistant cultivars, we recognize for its display of persistent golden for FOTA Arboretum) Members that crabapple performance is yellow fruit against bright blue 10% discount on all plants highly localized. Our contribution winter skies. for FOTA members. You may join FOTA at the Preview Party, or any time during the sale and receive immediate 10% discount. It’s D Asparagus Friday, May 9 and season Saturday, May 10, 9 am -5 pm starting April 15

Perennials • Herbs • Annuals PLANT SALE OPEN 1446 E. 1850 Rd. Fresh Asparagus Lawrence, KS Seasonal Vegetables TO THE PUBLIC Fresh Cut and Dried Flowers (785) 843-1409 Wedding & Event Flowers Workshops See our web page OVERLAND PARK ARBORETUM & BOTANICAL GARDENS 1/2 mile west of US 69 Highway on 179th Street at Antioch www.pendletons.com All our greenhouses 913-685-3604 For more info visit: www.opabg.org for Map and Events are completely pesticide free!

28 The Kansas City Gardener / April 2008 2008 OPArb Ad for KC Gardener--4.375” wide x 5.9” deep = 1/4 page Runs in April issue Deadline for April issue is March 5 “I will be carefully observing area. Growers are particularly Birds also seem to favor the bright Ornamental Crabapple and evaluating all the newbies enthused about Royal Raindrops® red fruits of Firebird®, the dusky we planted, and surely will have Crabapple, a new introduction that maroon fruits of Purple Prince and planting at Powell Gardens some new favorites in time!,” is making itself at home in gardens the tiny, beak-size fruits of Royal Branhagen exclaims. He invites and landscapes across the region. Raindrops® and Pink Princess. Adams people to visit the garden and dis- “It’s been my top crab since it Your favorite nursery profes- Adirondack cover their own favorites – to be came out, says Jeremy Johnson, of sional is your best ally in helping Cardinal Johnson’s Garden Centers. “The you choose among the many fine David fruit is great, the cutleaf foliage cultivars available in local garden Candymint unique, and the flowers beautiful. centers. We’ve been switching over from As the Powell Gardens plant- Firebird® Prairifire, which is a great tree and ing grows and matures, it will Floribunda Jeff Lafrenz. an excellent performer, but we like be a delightful place for garden- Louisa this one better.” ers and tree lovers to observe Mary Potter Photo by For small space gardens, the and enjoy ornamental crabapples Molten Lava® columnar Adirondack Crabapple through the seasons. In spring, is a winner. Outstanding weepers it will be a haven for bees, but- Pink Princess™ include the pink-flowered Louisa terflies, hummingbirds and other Prairifire and the white-blossomed Molten pollinators, as well as a place of Prairie Rose Lava™. It is so prostrate in char- fragrance and beauty for visitors. Purple Prince acter that it may be trained along a Come fall and winter, it will serve Red Jewel™ fence or espaliered against a wall as a colorful pantry for birds and to showcase its autumn cascade of other wildlife in search of food to Royal Raindrops® bright red, persistent fruits. help carry them through the long, Sargent ‘Purple Prince’ Birds flock to feast on the cold months. Then we’ll welcome Strawberry Parfait bright red, extra-long lasting fruits spring, when the cycle of beauty Sugar Tyme® of Red Jewel® Crabapple that will begin anew. Zumi Calocarpa enjoyed at the garden or planted in grow beside the greenhouses at their own landscapes, courtyards Suburban Lawn & Garden, accord- Nancy Buley is with J. Frank Descriptions and photos of these or containers. Many of the donated ing to Libby Burdsall, horticultur- Schmidt & Son Co., Wholesale cultivars are already being grown ist at the Kansas City nursery. A Tree Growers, Boring, Oregon. trees may be found on the Powell and sold by nurseries and garden top-seller, it is also appreciated You may reach her at 503-663- Gardens website, www.powell- centers in the greater Kansas City for excellent disease resistance. 4128 or [email protected]. gardens.org.

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Available at ... Colonial Nursery Planter Seed & Spice Family Tree Nursery Soil Service Garden Center Heartland Nursery Tree Top Nursery Johnson Garden Centers visit us at www.bonide .com

April 2008 / The Kansas City Gardener 29