Crabapple

Malus

MAL-us
15 to 30 ft.
15 to 30 ft.
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low

white, pink, or fuschia depending on the cultivar

May

15 to 30 ft.

15 to 30 ft.

No

temperate regions of North America, Europe, and Asia

sun

USDA zones 3-7

hardy to 8,000 ft.

Crabapples can be wonderful small trees for the Colorado Springs area. They bloom in mid-May with gorgeous flowers that range in color from white to pink. Once established, crabapple trees can be quite drought tolerant.

There are many different cultivars available for sale. Be sure to choose a cultivar that is resistant to fireblight, doesn't get larger than desired when mature, and has the desired fruiting habit (no fruit produced, edible fruit that drops in fall, or persistent fruit that hangs on the tree into winter).

Check with Colorado State University for recommended crabapple cultivars.

low

white, pink, or fuschia depending on the cultivar

May

15 to 30 ft.

15 to 30 ft.

No

temperate regions of North America, Europe, and Asia

sun

USDA zones 3-7

hardy to 8,000 ft.

At the Xeriscape Demonstration Garden, we have an 'Adams' crabapple. It has dark pink flowers in spring and persistent fruit into winter. The leaves turn yellow to orange in fall. 'Adams' is very resistant to fireblight.

Prune when young to create a healthy, well-shaped specimen tree. Some cultivars drop their fruit in the fall, which can be messy. Other cultivars do not produce fruit at all or the fruit persist on the tree until eaten by birds.