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Other Names:  Roseybloom, Crabapple

Description:

An oldie but a goodie, this ornamental tree features abundant clear red flowers in spring and persistent cherry-red fruit in fall, young foliage is a showy reddish-purple all summer long, very hardy; needs well-drained soil and full sun

Ornamental Features

Rudolph Flowering Crab is smothered in stunning clusters of fragrant pink flowers with shell pink overtones along the branches in mid spring, which emerge from distinctive cherry red flower buds before the leaves. It has attractive brick red-tipped dark green foliage which emerges burgundy in spring. The pointy leaves are highly ornamental and turn yellow in fall. The fruits are showy red pomes carried in abundance from early fall to late winter.

Landscape Attributes

Rudolph Flowering Crab is a deciduous tree with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a high maintenance tree that will require regular care and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Disease

Rudolph Flowering Crab is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Shade

Planting & Growing

Rudolph Flowering Crab will grow to be about 20 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 15 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 3 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 50 years or more.

This tree should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.