Plant, Tree & Shrub Library

Other Names:  Roseybloom

Description:

A profusion of showy pink flowers in spring and crimson fruit in fall, upright habit of growth; makes an incredible accent for the smaller home landscape; produces purple foliage and needs full sun and well-drained soil; moderately susceptible to scab

Ornamental Features

Velvet Pillar Flowering Crab features showy clusters of fragrant pink flowers along the branches in mid spring, which emerge from distinctive red flower buds before the leaves. It has attractive deep purple deciduous foliage. The pointy leaves are highly ornamental and turn an outstanding burgundy in the fall. The fruits are showy crimson pomes carried in abundance from early to late fall.

Landscape Attributes

Velvet Pillar Flowering Crab is a deciduous tree with a narrowly upright and columnar growth habit. 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 to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Velvet Pillar Flowering Crab is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Shade
• Vertical Accent

Planting & Growing

Velvet Pillar Flowering Crab will grow to be about 20 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 12 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 1 foot 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 prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. 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. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.