Royal Raindrops crabapple

Sun

Full sun; flowering and purple leaf colour are best with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily.

Water

Moderate; water regularly while establishing, then during prolonged dry spells. Avoid constantly wet soil.

Soil

Well-drained loam, clay or sandy soil, preferably moderately fertile and slightly acidic to neutral. Tolerates heavier soil if drainage is good.

Height

20-25 ft (6-7.6 m)

Spread

15-20 ft (4.6-6 m)

Flowers

Mid-spring; abundant magenta-pink flowers opening from darker buds.

Foliage

Deeply lobed, purple to burgundy leaves, with orange, bronze and red autumn colour.

Growth

Moderate

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Cold hardy
• Disease resistant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   7 ft (2 m)

2. After 1 year

   7 ft (2.2 m)

3. After 2 years

   8 ft (2.5 m)

4. After 3 years

   9 ft (2.7 m)

5. After 5 years

   10 ft (3.2 m)

About 20 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Growth rate

Moderate

• Plant with the root flare at soil level and keep any graft union above the soil.
• Water deeply through the first two growing seasons whenever the root zone begins to dry.
• Spread 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch over the root area, keeping it clear of the trunk.
• Feed only if growth is weak or a soil test shows a deficiency; avoid heavy nitrogen applications.
• Stake only on exposed sites or if the root ball is unstable, and remove supports once the tree is firmly rooted.

Pruning. Prune lightly in late winter while dormant, removing dead, crossing or poorly placed branches and retaining a clear central framework. Remove suckers from below the graft promptly; avoid topping or routine heavy pruning.

Late winter

Prune lightly before buds open and check that ties or guards are not constricting the trunk.

Spring

Plant container-grown trees when soil is workable, water thoroughly and refresh mulch.

Late spring

Inspect new shoots for aphids, powdery mildew and blackened shoot tips.

Summer

Water young trees deeply during dry weather and remove rootstock suckers.

Autumn

Leave healthy fruit for birds; collect fallen leaves if fungal disease has been troublesome.

Late autumn

Plant bare-root trees after leaf fall where the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged.

• Use as a lawn specimen where the spring flowers and autumn colour can be seen from the house.
• Place near a patio or entrance, allowing room for the mature crown and keeping fruit away from heavily used paving.
• Set behind pale-flowered perennials and silver foliage to contrast with the dark leaves.
• Repeat along a broad path or driveway for a small-scale avenue with seasonal interest.

Garden styles it suits: Traditional, Cottage garden, Modern, Wildlife garden, Autumn colour and Low-maintenance.

Plant it with: Catmint, Hardy geranium, Lady's mantle, Lamb's ear, Daffodils and Japanese forest grass.

Wildlife: Flowers provide pollen and nectar for bees and other insects. The small red fruits often persist into winter and are eaten by birds.

• Apple scab: resistance is generally good, but spotting and leaf drop can occur in wet seasons. Collect affected fallen leaves and keep the crown open with light pruning.
• Fire blight: blackened, hooked shoot tips need prompt attention. Prune affected branches well below visible damage in dry weather, disinfect tools between cuts and avoid excess nitrogen.
• Aphids: curled new leaves may shelter colonies. Wash small infestations off with water and encourage ladybirds and other predators.
• Poor establishment in wet soil: yellowing leaves and dieback can follow waterlogging. Correct drainage or move the tree to a better-drained site rather than watering more.

Like other apples, the seeds, leaves and stems contain cyanogenic compounds and can poison dogs, cats, horses and people if enough is eaten; chewed seeds and wilted foliage are particular concerns. Serious poisoning is possible, especially in grazing animals with access to prunings. The fruit flesh is not considered toxic, but this is an ornamental cultivar rather than a food crop.

• Prairifire crabapple (Malus 'Prairifire')

  Also has pink-red flowers and reddish new foliage, but its leaves are mostly unlobed and mature towards green rather than retaining Royal Raindrops' deeply cut purple appearance.

• Golden Raindrops crabapple (Malus 'Schmidtcutleaf')

  Has similarly deeply cut leaves, but they are green; its flowers are white and its small fruits are yellow rather than red.

Malus is the Latin name for apple, and Royal Raindrops is the selling name for the cultivar 'JFS-KW5'.

Propagation. Usually propagated by budding or grafting onto suitable apple rootstock to preserve the cultivar. Seedlings will not reliably retain its leaf colour, shape or other characteristics.

Accepted botanical name

Malus

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.