Here in the Pacific Northwest our mild climate allows us to grow many fine spring flowering and summer fruiting trees. Although not often planted, and not nearly as popular as the flowering cherry tree, the flowering crab apple provides both spring flowers and persistent ornamental fruit into winter.

 In full bloom, flowering crab apple offers a spectacular clouds of flowers in white, light pink, or a deep pink that is nearly magenta. The small and colorful fruit that follows, hangs on the branches for months, and it is the birds that pick them, right off the branches. But despite their beauty, in the past, I rarely included them in landscape designs because crab apples were very disease prone here in the PNW. There are five diseases of concern; fire blight, cedar apple rust, mildew, and scab. 

 It was well known that crab apple trees varied widely in their susceptibility to these diseases. Some cultivars showing surprising resistance and other tragic susceptibility. With this knowledge, plant growers developed new cultivars selected specifically for disease resistance and the improvements are remarkable.  Many of the new cultivars have good to excellent disease resistant ratings to all four of the diseases noted above.

 Another important feature of the new disease resistant cultivars is their compact habit that is desirable in suburban landscapes.  These beautiful trees are small in stature when mature, many grow only 10 to15 feet tall. The fruit of flowering crab apples was also improved. Not only are the crab apples a colorful red or orange, they hang on the branches well into fall and winter. This a big bonus for those who want to attract birds to their landscape.

 Plant crab apple in full sun. They prefer the hot afternoon sun when possible. They thrive in our naturally acidic soils found here in the PNW; and even grow well in compacted stuff that passes for soil in most suburbs. 

 Spending a little time on research before you shop for crab apples certainly pays – if you know what to ask for.  I have created a  list of cultivars that have high to excellant  disease resistance rating.   Most cultivars in the table are sold at local nurseries. But, not all nurseries have all the cultivars in the list. Choose the right cultivar and you will have a tree that is disease free but will bring three seasons of color, texture, and interest to your landscape.

Here is the list:

David, Firebird, Lollipop, Prairefire, Red Baron, Snowdrift, Sugartime, Adirondack, Centurion, Sargent Tina, Strawberry Parfait, and Sargent