Crabapples are popular ornamental trees in Colorado especially
along the Front Range of Colorado and their flowering announces the arrival of
spring.
Their blossoms appear generally from April to May
depending on variety but this season they have appeared one to three weeks
earlier than normal. Crabapple flowers may be single (5 petal), semi-double (6
to 10 petals) or double (more than 10 petals). Single-flowered crabapple
varieties tend to bloom earlier and currently many are in full bloom.
Semi-double and double flowered varieties tend to bloom later in the spring
season. Actual dates of blossoming can vary each year depending on weather
conditions and this spring they seem to be earlier than normal. Also, the
length of blooming period can range from 1 to 2 weeks depending on variety and
weather conditions. Cooler weather will prolong their bloom period.
Crabapple flower buds are even attractive before
they are fully open, developing color as they swell – called the balloon or bud
stage. The balloon may be a different color than the later mature flowers.
Crabapple flowers are a welcome sign of spring and
this year’s flower abundance along the Front Range seems exceptionally
outstanding.
Colorado State University has been evaluating
crabapple varieties for over 30 years for ornamental features and for disease
and pest resistance.
A few single flowered forms that have done
exceptionally well in our trials include:
- Cardinal – with pink to white single flowers with reddish new leaves and good disease resistance
- Spring Snow – single white very early fragrant flowers with bright green leaves and very popular because it produces no fruit
- Royal Raindrops – with single pink to red flowers with cutleaf purple leaves turning orange red in fall
- Sentinel – red balloon to white early flowers with upright growth habit and good for narrower spaces
Semi Double Types:
- Coral
burst – has pink to rose semi-double flowers and available in both tree or
shrub form and an excellent patio plant
- Brandywine – has double pink rose flowers that are later to bloom, but has many larger fruits and exfoliating bark. It is one of the better double flowered forms.
By choosing to plant some crabapples of all three
types you can enjoy the flowers of crabapples over almost a six to eight week period
of time given favorable weather conditions.
What would you recommend as FRAGRANT flowering crab apples that would do OK on the front range? Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThree from our CSU Fact Sheet on crabapples (#7.424 at ext.colostate.edu) are Brandywine, Sargent and Spring Snow. But most crabapples do have some scent. These three tend to have the strongest fragrance.
ReplyDeleteA new variety called "Showtime 2" is showiong up in local vendors. Does anyonw know if these do well in Colorado? tech ical name is "Malus Shotizam"
ReplyDelete