Sugar Tyme crabapple

Sun

Full sun, ideally at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily.

Water

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

Soil

Well-drained loam or clay loam; tolerates a range of soil textures and mildly acidic to mildly alkaline conditions.

Height

15-20 ft (4.6-6.1 m)

Spread

12-15 ft (3.7-4.6 m)

Flowers

Mid-spring; pink buds open to fragrant white flowers.

Foliage

Oval, toothed green leaves; autumn colour is usually yellow and can be modest.

Growth

Moderate.

Care needed

Low

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

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 (2.3 m)

4. After 3 years

   8 ft (2.5 m)

5. After 5 years

   9 ft (2.8 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 any graft union above the soil.
• Water deeply during dry weather for the first two growing seasons, moistening the root zone rather than just the surface.
• Spread a 2-3 in (5-8 cm) layer of mulch over the root area, keeping it clear of the trunk.
• Feed only if growth is weak or a soil test shows a deficiency; excess nitrogen encourages soft growth.
• Remove shoots arising below the graft and suckers growing from the roots.
• Stake only if the root ball moves in the wind, and remove supports once the tree is secure, usually within a year.

Pruning. Prune lightly in late winter while dormant, removing dead, damaged or crossing branches and retaining a balanced framework. Avoid topping or heavy thinning; remove suspected fire-blight infections promptly in dry weather, cutting well below visible damage and disinfecting tools between cuts.

Late winter

Remove damaged and crossing branches before growth starts; check young trees for rubbing ties.

Spring

Plant container-grown trees when soil is workable, water thoroughly and mulch the root area.

Late spring

After flowering, check for blackened shoot tips, aphids and leaf spots.

Summer

Water young trees deeply during dry spells and remove root suckers.

Autumn

Collect diseased fallen leaves and dispose of them to reduce overwintering infection.

Winter

Leave sound fruit for birds and protect young trunks where rabbits, voles or deer are active.

• Use as a specimen in a small lawn, leaving room for its mature crown.
• Plant near a window or seating area to enjoy spring flowers and winter fruit without placing it directly over paving.
• Underplant with spring bulbs and shade-tolerant perennials for a layered seasonal display.
• Repeat along a broad garden boundary or entrance drive for a consistent flowering canopy.
• Include in a mixed wildlife border with shrubs that provide cover and fruit at other times of year.

Garden styles it suits: Traditional, Cottage garden, English country, Wildlife garden, White garden and Winter interest.

Plant it with: Daffodils, Snowdrops, Hardy geraniums, Hellebores, Catmint and Oakleaf hydrangea.

Wildlife: Flowers provide pollen and nectar for bees and other insects. Birds eat the small red fruits, often later in winter after they soften; the branches also provide perching and nesting cover.

• Apple scab and rust: this cultivar has good resistance, but disease can occur. Provide sun and airflow, avoid wetting foliage and collect infected fallen leaves.
• Fire blight: look for blackened blossoms and hooked, dying shoot tips. Remove affected wood in dry weather, disinfect tools between cuts and avoid excessive nitrogen.
• Aphids: curled leaves may shelter colonies. Encourage ladybirds and other predators; wash off accessible colonies with water rather than spraying routinely.
• Poor flowering: shade, repeated hard pruning or excessive nitrogen can reduce bloom. Give the tree full sun, prune lightly and avoid unnecessary feeding.

Seeds, leaves and stems contain cyanogenic compounds and can poison cats, dogs, horses and people if enough is chewed and swallowed. Wilted foliage and access to prunings are particular concerns for horses; severe poisoning can be fatal. The fruit flesh is not known to be toxic, but eating many fruits can cause stomach upset, and the seeds should not be eaten.

• Snowdrift crabapple (Malus 'Snowdrift')

  Also has white spring flowers, but its small fruits are orange to orange-red rather than the clearer red fruits of Sugar Tyme.

• Japanese flowering cherry (Prunus serrulata)

  Flower colour varies by cultivar, and many garden forms have double flowers. It does not carry the conspicuous clusters of small red, apple-shaped fruits that identify Sugar Tyme in autumn and winter.

Malus is the Latin name for the apple tree.

Propagation. Usually propagated by budding or grafting onto a suitable apple rootstock. Seedlings will not reliably retain the cultivar's size, flowers, fruit or disease resistance.

Accepted botanical name

Malus

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