Why grow crabapples? Ornamental crabapples are very popular, small to medium-sized ornamental trees suitable for urban environments. There are more than 650 different cultivars of crabapples with a variety of leaf, flower, and fruit colors, fruit sizes, and growth forms. Crabapples are tolerant to a wide range of soil conditions, as long as they are well drained. It is important when selecting crabapples to not only select for ornamental value, but also disease resistance. In addition, it is best to select a crabapple with small-sized fruit that persist throughout the winter. The list below provides information on some of the most ornamental, disease resistant crabapples available for landscaping in Wisconsin. Cultivars listed below are considered proven performers. This list is by no means comprehensive and new introductions are currently being evaluated.
White flowers/red fruits:
| Latin Name (Common Name) |
Height | Description |
| Malus baccata ‘Jackii’ | 30′ | fragrant flowers; persistent fruit |
| Malus sargentii | 6-8′ | mounded, shrubby form; wide spreading; fragrant flowers |
| Malus sargentii ‘Tina’ | 4-5′ | dwarf form; wide-spreading; slow grower |
| Malus x zumi var. calocarpa | 15-25′ | broad form; fragrant flowers that are pink in bud; persistent fruit |
| Malus ‘Jewelcole’ (Red Jewel™) |
15-18′ | rounded form; persistent fruit |
| Malus ‘Sutyzam’ (Sugar Tyme™) |
15-20′ | oval to rounded form; fragrant flowers |
| Malus ‘Adirondack’ | 15-20′ | upright growth habit to oval; dark green leaves |
White flowers/yellow fruits:
| Latin Name (Common Name) |
Height | Description |
| Malus ‘Ormiston Roy’ | 20-25′ | rounded form; fruit turns yellow-orange in late fall |
|
Malus ‘Hargozam’ |
20′ | upright form; persistent, golden fruit |
Red or Pink flowers/red to maroon fruits:
| Latin Name (Common Name) |
Height | Description |
| Malus ‘Prairifire’ | 15-20′ | rounded form; purple, shiny bark; purple leaves; dark purplish-red flowers |
| Malus ‘Prairie Maid’ | 15′ | purple to green foliage; deep pink flowers; cherry-red fruit |
| Malus sargentii ‘Candymint’ | 8-10′ | pink flowers with white centers; red fruit |
Weeping form:
| Latin Name (Common Name) |
Height | Description |
| Malus ‘Coral Cascade’ | 15′ | semi-weeping form; pinkish-white flowers; persistent, orange fruit |
| Malus ‘Louisa’ | 10-15′ | graceful, weeping form; pink flowers; yellow fruit |
| Malus ‘Manbeck Weeper’ (Anne E.™) | 10′ | wide-spreading weeper; persistent fruit |
| Malus ‘Molazam’ (Molten Lava®) | 10-15′ | horizontal weeper; white flowers; orange fruit |
For more information on crabapples: See UW-Extension bulletins A1616, A2173, A2598, and University of Wisconsin Garden Facts X1007, X1009B, or contact your county Extension agent.
© 1999 the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System doing business as University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension.
An EEO/Affirmative Action employer, University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including Title IX and ADA requirements. This document can be provided in an alternative format by calling Brian Hudelson at (608) 262-2863 (711 for Wisconsin Relay).
Thanks to Sharon Morrisey, Brian Hudelson, Ed Hasselkus, and Amy Sausen for reviewing this document.
A complete inventory of UW Plant Disease Facts is available at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Plant Disease Diagnostics Clinic website: https://pddc.wisc.edu.