Undoubtedly, crabapple trees are one of the most perfect ornamental landscaping trees ever known. Specifically, the Coralburst Crabapple tree bridges the gap from suburban specimens to urban landscapes.
Read on to learn about this smaller crabapple variety that thrives in the inner city and sparks on the lawn!
Looking to buy a Coralburst Crabapple tree? Check availability.
Characteristics of Coralburst Crabapple Trees
The Coralburst Crabapple tree is an easy favorite among landscapers and fans of ornamental trees everywhere. They are considered to be among the most beautiful and fragrant of all crabapple tree varieties.
The stunning, disease and pest-resistant Coralburst Crabapple tree is on the smaller side of average crabapple trees.
This variety only grows to be about 10 to 12 feet in mature height and spread and has a compact, rounded form. This allows it to fill many landscaping spots where its larger contemporaries might not fit.
In the spring, the tender blooms of the tree appear in a dark, coral-pink hue–hence the tree’s namesake! These soon open into rose-colored flowers, which sport semi-double petals and emit a fragrance and visual beauty that are highly attractive to pollinators.
Bees, butterflies, and many songbirds will flock to your Coralburst Crabapple tree throughout its blooming season!
The initial array of reddish-toned, small-leaf foliage will mature over time into rich, dark green foliage. This adds a fresh layer of beauty to your ornamental design! As the growing season wears on, the Coralburst Crabapple tree will fruit with lots of small, beautiful reddish-orange fruits.
Another unique trait of the Coralburst Crabapple tree is its adaptability to various landscaping environments. Due to its size and form, this crabapple variety is considered a great option as a street tree or for lining driveways, sidewalks, paths, and patios in the inner city.
It can even be grown on rooftops for a pop of color that’s high above the rest in every regard!
Best of all, the Coralburst Crabapple tree has a great tolerance for air pollution. This means that, even in the most bustling urban setting, you don’t have to worry about your Coralburst Crabapple tree succumbing to less-than-ideal air quality.
Are Coralburst Crabapples Edible?
Though its fruits might appeal to the eye, the Coralburst Crabapple tree is not considered an edible variety. It is ornamental only, which means the fruits should be left for the birds–literally! Coralburst Crabapples are a key source of early winter nutrition for songbirds.
Something to be aware of is that while these crabapples do make a great source of nutrients for birds in need, the fruit can be toxic to horses, house pets, and certain other animals. Like all of your standard apple varieties, crabapple seeds contain a toxin that can become cyanide when ingested.
While humans are keen to eat just the flesh of crabapples and leave the seeds alone, animals don’t tend to use that sort of caution. So it’s best to watch your landscaping crabapples and watch for dropped crabapples that should be dealt with quickly.
This is especially true if you are planting this as a street tree or near a path where folks might frequently walk their dogs or where urban cats roam about. Be sure to do regular maintenance to remove any dropped Coralburst Crabapples to keep our four-legged friends safe and healthy.
Growing Coralburst Crabapple Trees At Home
Preparing and Planting
Learning how to plant a crabapple tree may look just a touch different in the urban versus suburban or rural setting. However, most key steps look the same. In either setting, you can consider the Coralburst Crabapple tree a perfect candidate as a focal point for your landscaping. It can also make a great accent tree as well.
To start preparing to plant your Coralburst Crabapple tree, you have to start by choosing the perfect location. Folks with large yards might find this slightly easier than those in an urban setting because sunlight is the key to a happy Coralburst Crabapple tree.
These trees are big-time sun lovers. They need at least six hours of full sun per day, which can sometimes be tricky in an urban setting where there are lots of tall buildings to compete with. Luckily, this is a hardy tree, so try your best to reduce shade on your tree as much as possible.
Soil is another factor to consider. Fortunately, as with most crabapple tree varieties, the Coralburst Crabapple tree is quite adaptable to several different soil types.
Overall, it will thrive best in moist, well-draining soil that is nutrient enriched. Composting and mulching will easily help you achieve the ideal soil environment for your crabapple tree.
Once you have selected a spot for your Coralburst Crabapple tree, it’s time to prepare in earnest! Turn the soil in that spot to remove rocks and weeds and improve drainage. Then, mix in your compost.
Next, dig your tree’s planting hole. The hole must be as deep as your crabapple tree’s root ball and twice as wide. Once the hole is dug, loosen the tree’s root ball from the planting bucket and place it inside the hole; the edge of the root ball’s soil should be level with the edge of your hole.
Once the tree is settled in the hole, refill it with the soil and water it deeply. This will help chase out any air pockets that might form, fusing the soil together and helping the roots get established in this new environment.
Caring and Maintaining
An established Coralburst Crabapple tree is a low-maintenance variety. It needs moderate amounts of water, so a bit of supplementing between bouts of rainfall is fine.
Established Coralburst Crabapple trees are also drought tolerant, so if you live in an urban area that restricts water in times of shortage, you won’t have to worry too much about your tree.
Regular pruning will help keep your Coralburst Crabapple tree healthy and vibrant. You should prune your Coralburst Crabapple tree in the wintertime when the tree is dormant. Avoid springtime or summertime pruning, as the creation of fresh wounds on the tree at these times can leave it susceptible to bacteria.
Like many modern crabapple tree varieties, the Coralburst Crabapple tree is resistant to many pests and diseases. However, it is not entirely immune, so it’s wise to inform yourself of common crabapple tree diseases. Look for any signs of these and address them immediately should they arise.
Maintenance of fallen fruit is also a part of caring for your Coralburst Crabapple tree. Crabapples that drop from the tree onto the pavement can create a slick, slippery mess.
So if you are planting a street tree, or one as a sidewalk, patio, or pathway accent, be sure to clean up any fruit that drops from the tree regularly.
Where To Buy Coralburst Crabapple Trees
As a popular ornamental tree, the Coralburst Crabapple tree can often be found at your local tree nurseries and lawn and garden centers. If you are sourcing online, especially from an urban location, we recommend the reliable resource of Nature Hills.
Wrapping Up the Coralburst Crabapple Tree
Excited to add a stunning Coralburst Crabapple tree–or several!–to your landscaping? Before you get started, be sure to check out our Crabapple Trees page! This fantastic resource will help set you up for success with all the info you need to raise a healthy, happy crabapple tree in any setting.
- About the Author
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Renee Dugan is a lifelong writer, professional editor, and lover of all things nature, gardening and the big outdoors.
A Midwest girl who’s been in the garden since she could first hold a hand trowel, Renee’s love of growing things has bloomed into a passion for healthy living, holistic lifestyle, and knowing where our food comes from.
Now a mother and maturing gardener herself, Renee is passionate about channeling everything she knows and continues to learn about gardening into lessons for her son and others. Her excitement for sharing this knowledge is only superseded by her excitement about being able to finally grow her own citrus plants in pots.
Renee can be reached at renee.s.dugan@gmail.com