Crab Apple

Crab Apple 'Profusion' (Malus x moerlandsii 'Profusion') is a deciduous feature tree that earns its space three times a year. It settles at about 5m tall and 4m wide, opens deep pink to purple blossom in spring against bronzed new leaves, then colours in autumn and holds small dark red fruit into winter. The roots are non-invasive, so it is one of the safer small trees near a drive or a path.

Why you'll love it

• Three seasons of interest. Pink purple blossom, bronze spring foliage, autumn colour and persistent red fruit from one tree.
• A size that fits a real garden. At 5m by 4m it suits a suburban block where a full sized ornamental would crowd everything out.
• Roots that stay out of trouble. Non-invasive, so paths, driveways and services are not at risk.
• Good for bees and butterflies. The spring blossom is a genuine nectar source, and the fruit is edible if you want to make jelly from it.

Where it works best

Feature planting. Give it a spot you look at from the house. A single tree in lawn or an open bed carries the whole spring display on its own.

Small gardens. The modest canopy and safe roots make it usable in a courtyard or a narrow front garden where a larger tree would not work.

Driveways and avenues. Plant 4m to 5m apart for a matched line. At that spacing the canopies just meet at maturity without the branches tangling.

Growing Crab Apple Profusion in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun for the heaviest flowering and the best autumn colour. This is a tree for cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens, and it is frost hardy, so cold winters suit it. It is not a choice for tropical or subtropical humidity, where it flowers poorly.

Soil. Well drained soil with compost through the backfill. Wind tolerant once established, so an open block is fine. Keep 75mm of mulch on the root zone, clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. Water deeply through the first two summers. It is not a drought tolerant tree, so keep the water up in dry spells or the leaves scorch and the fruit drops early. Feed a complete slow release fertiliser in early spring.

Pruning. Prune in winter while it is bare. Take out crossing branches and any suckers from below the graft, and shorten long shoots to balance the crown. Leave the short flowering spurs alone.

What to expect when it arrives

This one is sold in a single size, 30L: a young tree with a formed trunk and a branching head rather than a whip. It will not be at 5m on arrival, so expect a few years of steady growth before it fills out.

Deciduous trees ship best in the cooler months, and a tree despatched bare of leaves in winter is normal rather than a fault. Plants are delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95, and advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Evergreen or deciduous: choosing for your garden
• Browse the deciduous tree range
• Plants for autumn colour
• Trees with non-invasive roots

Common questions

Can you eat the fruit?

Yes. The small dark red crab apples are edible, though sharp raw, and they are usually cooked into jelly. Left on the tree they hang well into winter and the birds take them.

How far apart for a driveway line?

Four to five metres apart. Closer than that and the canopies fight each other; further and the line stops reading as an avenue.

Will it grow in a warm humid climate?

Not well. It needs cool temperate, warm temperate or Mediterranean conditions, and a proper winter chill drives the flowering. In subtropical gardens expect weak blossom and disappointing autumn colour.

Does it need a second tree to fruit?

No, it sets fruit on its own. Crab apples are also useful pollinators for eating apples nearby, so it does double duty in a garden with fruit trees.