Cardinal Crabapple (Malus 'Cardinal')
MAY-lus 'Cardinal'

Deciduous Perennial Tree in the Rosaceae Family
 
Buy Cardinal Crabapple
Size Notes Price Availability
#10 gallon Field $112.50 Likely available
11/1 - 11/8
1/24 - 4/4

About Apples & Crabapples

Malus is a genus of roughly 30-55 species of small to medium deciduous trees and shrubs in the rose family, native across the Northern Hemisphere and including both edible apples (Malus domestica) and the many ornamental flowering crabapples grown for their spring bloom and persistent fall or winter fruit. Most species bear clusters of five-petaled flowers in white, pink, or red in spring, followed by small pome fruit that ranges from decorative to edible depending on the species and cultivar. Ornamental crabapples are widely planted street and landscape trees valued for disease-resistant modern cultivars, four-season interest, and wildlife value -- their fruit persists into winter and is an important late-season food source for birds.

Pros

  • Spring flowers in white, pink, or red attract pollinators
  • Persistent fall and winter fruit is a valuable food source for birds
  • Many modern cultivars bred for strong disease resistance
  • Wide range of mature sizes to fit almost any landscape

Cons

  • Older cultivars and species can be prone to apple scab, fire blight, cedar-apple rust, or powdery mildew
  • Fallen fruit can be messy on paved surfaces if not cleaned up
  • Seeds, stems, and wilting leaves are toxic if eaten in quantity
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 10 - 15 feet tall. 15 - 25 feet wide.
Sun Exposure Full Sun - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium
Zones 5a - 8b (Usually hardy to -20° F)
Tags Deciduous, Full Sun, Full Sun, Medium, Medium, Ornamental Tree, Perennial, Tree
Bloom Period April
Flower Color Red
Foliage Color
 

More Info from Experts

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Pricing and Availability History

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


Estimated Recipe Cost

The cost of this recipe's ingredients will vary depending on the season and the sizes and varieties you select.


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To secure the best prices for club members and make sure we know the current plants available from each nursery, we take orders only a couple of times a month.

Shoot us an email at help@northshoreplantclub.com, and we'll be happy to talk about plants or let you know when it's time to buy them!


No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!