The Magnificent Crabapple
April 2002 Volume 15, No. 1

You do not have to drive to a famous botanical garden in order to view a spectacular spring flower show. Instead, visit a famous local nursery during the peak of crabapple bloom — ours!

Horsford’s Gardens & Nursery has row upon row, acre upon acre of pink, red and white flowering crabapples. Each spring we dig hundreds of trees to sell, and each summer we plant hundreds for future years.

Plant collectors introduced crabapples to this country around the turn of the century. Most species originated in Asia. There are now hundreds of varieties under cultivation. The majority are hybrids but a few original species have perpetuated. Malus baccata, Malus sargentii and Malus floribunda are three of the antique crabapples still being cultivated.

For the past century the crabapple has graced many a yard. Its diverse growth habit makes it an ideal specimen for most landscapes. M. ‘Mary Potter’ or M. sargentii will fit nicely in a tight urban plot. More varieties find their way to suburban lawns either as part of an overall garden scheme or planted as specimen trees. Crabapple trees are classically used as a vertical focal point in perennial gardens. In that situation they look best limbed up and underplanted with spring-blooming bulbs and perennials. Crabapples make excellent pollinators for apple trees. Landscape architects often plant them in allées in a landscape for clients who want the look of an orchard without the work.

How do you choose the perfect tree? The growers at Horsford’s have developed a set of cultivation criteria. The trees must meet certain standards in order to be planted in our fields. Primarily they must be disease-resistant and hardy to Vermont. Crabapples are plagued by three diseases: apple scab, fire blight and cedar-apple rust. Only varieties that
have proven to be resistant to these diseases are grown here. This is an important environmental consideration as it eliminates a lot of chemical spraying.

Crabapples grow in a wide range of heights and shapes. They can be as short as 8 feet and as tall as 40 feet. Fully mature trees have a round, oval or horizontal crown. Some, such as M. floribunda, have a greater spread than height. Also, a few varieties of weeping crabapples will grow this far north. They look like a fountain of flowers when they bloom.

Many gardeners believe that crabapples are inherently messy, spilling their fruit on the ground. The varieties Horsford’s grows and sells tend to keep their apples through the winter. Each spring cedar waxwings, robins and starlings return from the south and feast on them. By the time the new blooms appear the old fruit is completely gone. The crabapple’s longevity is probably due to its adaptability. They are tolerant of most soil types as long as they have good drainage. If you choose diseaseresistant cultivars there is no maintenance beyond the basics: water, fertilize and prune. Water deeply every 3 to 4 weeks during droughts. Fertilize in the spring at the drip line. Follow the directions on the ProGro bag for your particular tree’s size and height. Prune occasionally to keep a pleasing form. Do this
by removing overlapping branches, branches that rub against each other and any branch that interferes with your idea of a desirable shape. Prune branches that are referred to as “water-sprouts.” They ascend vertically from the tree trunk and other branches. Finally, prune suckers that shoot up from the tree roots. Ralph, our field foreman, prunes the crabapples in the fields during the winter months.

Crabapples are relatively fast growers, thus making them ideal for gardeners who instantly want the look of a mature landscape. Look in the Horsford’s 2002 catalogue in the deciduous tree section under the heading Malus for a complete list and descriptions of the varieties we carry. New this year is a collection of dwarf trees. They originated from the Round Table series. M.‘Camelot’, M. ‘Guinever’, M. ‘Hamlet’ and M.‘Lancelot’ are nice small trees growing 8 to 10 feet tall and wide. The flower color is in the pink to white range. Horford’s company favorite is Malus floribunda. Come see the beautiful old specimen tree that is planted outside the entrance to the greenhouse. Each spring it revives us with its spectacular display of pastel pink buds that open to pearly white blooms.