The crab apple tree, a small, flowering member of the Malus genus, is a popular choice for home landscapes due to its year-round visual interest. These trees offer a spectacular spring bloom, followed by persistent small fruits that provide color through fall and winter. Purchasing the right specimen requires careful consideration of both the variety and the vendor. Understanding the specific characteristics and sourcing options ensures the tree will thrive in its new location.
Selecting the Ideal Crab Apple Cultivar
Choosing the correct cultivar is the most important step before purchasing, as it determines the tree’s ultimate size, appearance, and health. Gardeners should first decide on the primary purpose for the tree: ornamental flowers and fall foliage, or fruit production for jellies or attracting wildlife. Many varieties hold their fruit into the winter months, offering sustained color after the leaves have dropped.
Matching the mature size and shape of the tree to the available space prevents future pruning issues or overcrowding. Crab apples come in a wide range of growth habits, including weeping forms, narrow upright shapes, and broad spreading varieties. Knowing the mature height and spread allows for proper placement away from structures or utility lines.
Selecting a variety with documented resistance to common diseases is vital for long-term success. Crab apples are susceptible to several fungal and bacterial issues, notably apple scab, fire blight, cedar-apple rust, and powdery mildew. Choosing resistant cultivars significantly reduces the need for chemical treatments and preserves the tree’s foliage. Look for varieties known to have high resistance to apple scab, which causes dark lesions and premature leaf drop. Examples of varieties with good multi-disease resistance include ‘Prairifire,’ ‘Adirondack,’ and ‘Sargentii’.
Evaluating Retail and Online Purchase Options
When deciding where to buy, buyers have three main options: local nurseries, large garden centers, and online mail-order specialists. Local independent nurseries often provide stock adapted to the specific regional climate, increasing the chance of successful establishment. These specialized centers typically employ staff who can offer expert advice on which cultivars perform best locally, although their prices may be higher and the selection of rare varieties more limited.
Big box stores and general garden centers offer convenience and lower purchase prices. However, the staff at these locations may have less specialized knowledge regarding specific crab apple diseases or regional planting conditions. The quality control of the stock can be inconsistent, and the selection often focuses only on the most common cultivars.
Online nurseries and mail-order specialists provide access to a vast inventory, including many rare or specialized crab apple cultivars not available locally. This option is beneficial for those seeking a specific or unusual variety. Drawbacks include the inability to inspect the tree’s health and root system before arrival, and the potential stress the plant undergoes during shipping. While the initial price might be lower online, shipping costs must be factored into the total expense.
Understanding Tree Forms and Optimal Buying Seasons
Crab apple trees are typically sold in three different forms, which affects both the cost and the planting process.
Bare-Root Trees
Bare-root trees are dormant specimens dug from the field with no soil around their roots, making them the most economical option and easiest to transport. These trees establish quickly because their root systems are intact. However, they are highly susceptible to drying out and must be planted immediately upon receipt.
Container-Grown Trees
Container-grown trees are sold in pots with their root ball contained in soil, offering the most flexibility for planting time. Since the entire root system is moved with the tree, container plants experience less transplant shock and can be planted almost any time of the year, provided the ground is not frozen. They are generally more expensive due to increased production costs. There is also a risk of the roots becoming compacted or circling within the pot, which requires correction before planting.
Balled and Burlapped (B&B) Trees
Balled and burlapped (B&B) trees are usually larger, more mature specimens dug from a field with a large ball of native soil wrapped in burlap. This form is much heavier and more cumbersome, often requiring specialized equipment to move and plant. While B&B trees provide an instant visual impact, digging them up severs a significant portion of the root system. This means they can suffer from transplant shock and take longer to re-establish than container or bare-root stock.
The best time to purchase and plant bare-root trees is during late fall or early spring while the tree is dormant. Container trees allow for successful planting throughout the growing season.