Keep lawn grass away from the base of the tree the grass will compete with the tree for water and nutrients. Spread a 2-inch (5 cm.) layer of mulch around the tree to keep the soil moist and reduce evaporation. Although crabapple trees are drought tolerant, lack of water will affect next year’s flowering and fruit.įeed the tree with a balanced, general purpose fertilizer before new growth emerges in late winter or early spring, beginning the year following planting. The tree may need additional water during hot, dry weather. Beware of watering excessively, which may cause root rot. Water Royal Raindrops regularly during the first few years to establish a healthy root system thereafter, an occasional deep watering is sufficient. Be sure the tree is sited where it receives full sunlight. Plant this flowering crabapple tree anytime between the last frost in spring and about three weeks before the first hard frost in fall.Ĭrabapple ‘Royal Raindrops’ are adaptable to nearly any type of well-drained soil, but acidic soil with a pH of 5.0 to 6.5 is preferable. Mature trees reach a height of up to 20 feet. Royal Raindrops flowering crabapple is suitable for growing in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 through 8. Growing Royal Raindrops CrabapplesĬrabapple ‘Royal Raindrops’ ( Malus transitoria ‘JFS-KW5’ or Malus JFS-KW5 ‘Royal Raindrops’) is a newer crabapple variety valued for its tolerance to heat and drought and excellent disease resistance. Interested in growing a royal raindrops tree in your garden? Read on for more information. The dark green leaves turn a bright coppery red in autumn. The blooms are followed by tiny, reddish-purple fruit that provide food for birds well into winter. They’re a big draw for birds in particular, the cedar waxwing.Royal Raindrops flowering crabapple is a newer crabapple variety with bold pinkish-red flowers in spring. Crabapples cling to the tree into early winter when freezing temperatures make the fruit mushy. Its blossoms are especially attractive to bees and other pollinators. There are some you won’t hear complaining about this ‘crabby’ tree. It resulted in many permutations of ‘wild apples.’ These included trees that produced varying degrees of bitter, acrid fruit they called ‘spitters.’ That didn’t stop our forefathers who soon discovered that various fermented combinations of crabs and sweeter apples resulted in a most satisfactory beverage. It led to a massive but totally random hybridization effort in which Johnny Appleseed was surely involved. The quest of early apple planting in America wasn’t to obtain an apple for eating, but rather an apple for drinking – cider, that is. The good news is that if you do make jelly, the fruit’s high pectin content means you don’t have to add any of the store bought variety. Take it from Henry David Thoreau, who, in an essay entitled “Wild Apples,” called the fruit “sour enough to set a squirrel’s teeth on edge and make a jay scream.” It’s truly a feast for the eye, but if you’re looking for a snack, better make jelly – or cider. Then come the royal raindrops – tiny maroon-red crabapples that take on a dramatic orange-red color by fall. On their heels, delicate buds opening into tiny magenta-pink blossoms bedeck the tree with grace. The only maintenance involves removing suckers and branches that cross or rub against each other.įrom stark winter silhouettes come deeply lobed, purple leaves that keep their color all summer. It is characterized by diminutive fruit and richly colored leaves, blossoms and fruit. This easy to grow landscape tree is well suited to small yards, growing just 15-20 feet high with a 12-16 foot spread. It’s hard to go wrong with a crabapple tree if you’re looking for small, low-maintenance and attractive most of the year.īark & Garden has a yummy selection of flowering crabapple trees including the unique, hardy cultivar Malus ‘Royal Raindrops.’
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