Radiant Flowering Crab

Other Names: Roseybloom, Crabapple

Description:

One of the most cherished ornamentals, simply smothered in deep pink flowers in spring followed by persistent bright red fruit in fall; an exceptional accent tree for smaller home landscapes, needs well-drained soil and full sun

Ornamental Features:

Radiant Flowering Crab is covered in stunning clusters of fragrant rose flowers along the branches in mid spring, which emerge from distinctive dark red flower buds before the leaves. It has attractive coppery-bronze-tipped dark green foliage which emerges brick red in spring. The pointy leaves are ornamentally significant and turn yellow in fall. The fruits are showy red pomes carried in abundance from early to late fall. The rough brown bark is not particularly outstanding.

Landscape Attributes:

Radiant Flowering Crab is a deciduous tree with a more or less rounded form. 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

Radiant Flowering Crab is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Shade
• General Garden Use

Plant Characteristics:

Radiant 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.