Habitat

• native to China
• zone 4

Habit and Form

• a small deciduous tree
• 20' to 25' tall, or perhaps a bit larger
• vase-shaped habit
• branches somewhat stiff, often with lots of short spur branches
• branching is somewhat sparse (not a negative attribute)
• overall presents a picturesque, somewhat open form

Summer Foliage

• alternate leaf arrangement
• deciduous leaves
• leaves ovate to oval
• leaves are 2" to 4" long and 1 to 1.5" wide
• leaf margins finely toothed
• leaf bases are rounded to wedge-shaped on flowering shoots
• dark, bright green color with glabrous upper surface
• new growth emerges reddish or bronze

Autumn Foliage

• foliage turns a mix of yellow and green

Flowers

• blooms in April to early May
• deep pink in bud, opening blush pink and fading to white
• fragrant, 5-petaled blossoms
• individual flowers are 1 to 1.5" wide
• flowers held in clusters
• flowers are borne even along larger branches on spur wood
• can be extremely showy
• borne in alternate years, although off year is still showy

Fruit

• fruits held in clusters
• green-yellow with a red blush on one side
• 0.4" diameter crabapples (pome fruit)

Bark

• shiny, gray-brown color
• scaley
• not of particular ornamental importance

Culture

• prefers full sun
• very tolerant of a range of soils
• prefers moist, organic, slightly acid soils
• easy to cultivate

Landscape Use

• patio tree
• small groupings
• specimen
• useful for showy bloom
• useful for high quality summer foliage
• attract birds and wildlife to fruit
• considered one of the best crabapples by many horticulturists

Liabilities

• relatively resistant to most crabapple disease and insect problems
• occasionally affected by fireblight
• aphids can be found, but they are not a serious problem

ID Features

• vase-shaped habit is unique
• sparsely-branched, spreading, scaffold branches
• lots of spur wood along branches
• shiny, dark green leaves with fine serrations on margin
• new growth emerges reddish
• flower buds pink, opening to white
• flowers and fruit held in clusters

Propagation

• a triploid that comes true from seed
• cuttings
• tissue culture

Cultivars/Varieties

• None of importance