Other Names:  Prairie Crab Apple, Roseybloom, Crabapple

Description:

A highly ornamental tree for use as an accent in the home landscape, absolutely smothered in clear pink flowers in spring, followed by negligible small green fruit, vigorous grower; needs well-drained soil and full sun

Ornamental Features

Bechtel's Flowering Crab is bathed in stunning clusters of fragrant shell pink flowers along the branches in mid spring, which emerge from distinctive pink flower buds before the leaves. It has dark green deciduous foliage. The pointy leaves turn yellow in fall.

Landscape Attributes

Bechtel's 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 is a relatively low maintenance tree, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Disease

Bechtel's Flowering Crab is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Shade

Planting & Growing

Bechtel's 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 4 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a fast 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 is a selection of a native North American species.