Japanese Flowering Crabapple

Japanese Flowering Crabapple (Malus floribunda) is the blossom tree for gardens that want a proper spring display without a forest sized tree. It reaches about 5m tall and 5m wide, and each spring deep pink buds open to white flowers along every branch. The roots are non-invasive, which is rare in a tree of this spread.

Why you'll love it

• Two flower colours at once. Deep pink buds open white, so the tree carries both shades through the peak of the display.
• Roots that stay out of trouble. Non-invasive, so it can sit near paths, driveways and services where a larger shade tree could not.
• It feeds bees and birds. Blossom brings the bees in spring, and small yellow crabapples follow in autumn for the birds to work through.
• Winter sun, summer shade. Deciduous, so it shades a seat or a window in summer and lets the light back over winter.

Where it works best

Feature planting. A single tree in a front lawn or courtyard is the classic use. At 5m by 5m it reads as a proper tree while still fitting a suburban block.

Driveways and avenues. For a row, allow 5m to 6m between trees so each canopy develops its full rounded shape rather than growing into its neighbour.

Small gardens and shade. The spreading canopy casts useful summer shade over a patio without the bulk of a eucalypt.

Growing Japanese Flowering Crabapple in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, which is what drives heavy flowering. This is a cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean tree, and it is frost hardy. It needs winter chill to flower properly, so subtropical and tropical gardens are not suitable ground, and the display thins in the warmest temperate districts.

Soil. Well drained soil with compost worked through the bed. It is not fussy about type but resents waterlogging, so raise the planting area on heavy clay.

Water and feed. Deep soak weekly through the first two summers, then taper off as it becomes drought tolerant. Feed a complete slow release fertiliser in early spring, and mulch 75mm deep clear of the trunk.

Pruning. Prune in winter while the tree is bare and dormant. Take out crossing branches and water shoots, and keep the centre open so light reaches the inner wood where next spring's flowers form.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in four sizes: 300mm and 400mm pots, 45L and 100L. The 300mm and 400mm plants are young trees with a clear leader and usually flower within a season or two. The 45L and 100L are advanced stock, and the 100L gives a tree with presence on day one.

Delivered between autumn and late winter it arrives bare of leaves, which is normal for a deciduous tree, not a fault. Trees are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the wider flowering tree range.
• Compare other deciduous trees.
• See trees with non-invasive roots for tight blocks.
• Read our guide to choosing a feature tree.

Common questions

Can I eat the fruit?

The small yellow crabapples are edible but sharp raw. They make excellent jelly, and if you leave them the birds clear the tree for you.

Will it flower in a warm climate?

Only where there is real winter chill. Cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens get the full display, warm temperate gardens a lighter one, and subtropical gardens should choose a different blossom tree.

How close to the house can I plant it?

The roots are non-invasive, so about 3m from a wall is comfortable and gives the 5m canopy room to spread.

Does it need another tree to fruit?

No. It sets fruit readily on its own, and the crabapples are an ornamental bonus rather than the reason to plant it.