Lemoine Purple Flowering Crab
Malus x purpurea 'Lemoinei'
Height: 25 feet
Spread: 20 feet
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 4b
Other Names: Roseybloom, Crabapple
Description:
Spectacular rose-purple blooms cover broadly sweeping branches in springtime; young leaves, stems and wood are purplish-red; the striking dark red fruit attracts birds
Ornamental Features
Lemoine Purple Flowering Crab is clothed in stunning clusters of fragrant fuchsia flowers along the branches in early spring before the leaves. It has attractive dark green deciduous foliage which emerges burgundy in spring. The pointy leaves are highly ornamental and turn yellow in fall. The fruits are showy dark red pomes carried in abundance from early to late fall. The fruit can be messy if allowed to drop on the lawn or walkways, and may require occasional clean-up.
Landscape Attributes
Lemoine Purple Flowering Crab is a deciduous tree with a more or less rounded form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.
This tree will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It is a good choice for attracting birds and bees to your yard. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;
Lemoine Purple Flowering Crab is recommended for the following landscape applications;
Planting & Growing
Lemoine Purple Flowering Crab will grow to be about 25 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 20 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 2 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 50 years or more.
This tree should only be grown in full sunlight. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.