~ May 1, 2025

Spring is putting on a show, and our Tree of the Month is right at the center of it: Crabapples! These ornamental favorites light up the landscape with vibrant blooms, colorful fruit, and year-round charm. Whether in a backyard, parkway, or public space, Crabapples are a reliable and stunning choice for any planting.

At Spring Grove Nursery, we grow a standout lineup of Malus varieties that offer beauty, structure, and excellent disease resistance. Some of our favorites include:

• Ruby Dayze – A compact variety with deep red buds and rich pink flowers, paired with reddish foliage and strong resistance to foliar diseases.
• Red Jewel – Bright white spring blooms and glossy red fruit that clings through winter make this variety a standout for four-season interest.
• Firebird – Perfect for smaller spaces, this dwarf Crabapple has a rounded shape, fragrant white flowers, and vibrant red fruit well into the colder months.
• Royal Raindrops – A customer favorite for good reason: its magenta-pink flowers, purple cutleaf foliage, and persistent fruit combine ornamental value with durability.

Beyond their good looks, Crabapples offer important ecological value. Their spring blossoms are a magnet for early-season pollinators, including bees and beneficial insects just waking up from winter. In the fall and winter, the persistent fruit provides a much-needed food source for birds like Cedar Waxwings, Finches, Bluebirds, Cardinals, and Robins, helping support local wildlife throughout the year. Foxes, badgers, and mice eat the crabapple fruit, too! 

Crabapples also have a rich place in history. While many ornamental varieties are bred for beauty and disease resistance today, wild crabapple species were once a crucial food source. People would often preserve the tart fruit into jellies, syrups, or spiced crabapple butter. If you’re feeling adventurous, simmer halved crabapples with cinnamon sticks, cloves, and a splash of apple cider vinegar, then strain and sweeten with sugar to make a rustic jelly or glaze, perfect over roasted meats! (Full disclosure, I haven’t personally tried this recipe, so if you try it let me know if it’s good…or if it’s really, really bad – ha!)

Whether you’re planting for beauty, habitat, or a touch of old-fashioned charm, Crabapples offer it all. Explore our full Crabapple collection here, and enjoy the beautiful Crabapple blooms in your community soon!

~ Maggie Thomas Harper

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