The Red Baron crabapple tree is a stunning addition to any landscape, with vibrant red blooms that light up your backyard in the spring.
This tree is disease-resistant and low-maintenance, making it an easy choice for those who want a pop of color in their yard without the hassle.
Whether you want to add curb appeal to your home or create a peaceful backyard retreat, the Red Baron crabapple tree is a must-have for any nature lover.
Below, you’ll learn about this decorative tree, including ways to use crabapples and how to grow your own Red Baron in your backyard.
So read on to discover everything you need to know about the Red Baron crabapple tree.
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Plant Characteristics
First, let’s dive into the key characteristics that set this crabapple tree apart.
This deciduous tree is a showstopper from spring through winter, boasting a profusion of red buds that burst open into gorgeous scarlet flowers in May.
The clusters of fragrant blooms cover the branches in a sea of red, creating a stunning display that will add striking color to any outdoor space.
But the Red Baron’s beauty doesn’t end there. In the fall, the leaves turn a brilliant shade of orange-red, adding another layer of color to your yard.
When the leaves fall, they’re replaced with bright red, cherry-sized crabapples that grow in abundance. These fruits will often last into the colder months, attracting birds in your yard during the winter.
This gorgeous tree is medium-sized and can reach heights up to 20 feet tall with a 6-8 foot spread. If you have a smaller backyard, this tree will create a marvelous display without taking up too much space.
Can You Eat the Crabapples?
While tart and mouth-puckering, you can eat the crabapples from the Red Baron. Avoid ingesting the seeds since they contain trace amounts of cyanide that are only harmful if consumed in large quantities.
How to Use Crabapples?
Wondering what to do with the sour harvest from your Red Baron crabapple tree? Here are some ideas to put the tart fruit to good use.
Crabapples are rich in natural pectin, so if you’re a canning connoisseur, try making homemade pectin from your harvest. It’s easier than you may think and comes in handy when making jellies and jams.
If you’re a fiend for sour candy, you should consider tossing back a glass of this crabapple juice. All you need is some water, sugar, and cream of tartar, along with a few quarts of crabapples to make this tart sipper.
For homemade wine aficionados, try making crabapple wine for a sweet and sour libation. While it takes a few months to make, the boozy bevy will be worth the wait.
How to Grow Your Own Red Baron Crabapple Tree
Are you convinced to add this scarlet beauty to your backyard? Keep reading to learn how to grow this stunning variety.
Planting
The Red Baron is a slender tree that makes a great addition to any garden bed or border, providing pinpoint shade and visual interest all year round.
If you’re worried about sacrificing other plants or garden space to make room for this natural beauty, don’t worry.
Slim trees like the Red Baron are a fantastic choice for smaller landscapes. With the narrow, upright growth habit and low canopy, you won’t have to worry about this tree taking over your backyard.
Choose a location in your backyard with a 20-foot clearance that receives full sun. You can grow your Red Baron in shadier spots, but more light will bring out the best color.
Make sure the ground is full of well-draining soil. Add compost or organic matter to help beef it up before planting since crabapple trees prefer slightly acidic soil.
Dig a hole in the ground that’s wider than the root ball. Place your tree directly in the center, then carefully refill the hole. Spread a layer of mulch after planting to help protect the young roots and maintain moisture levels in the soil.
Want to discover more tips and tricks? Check out our guide on planting crabapple trees to learn more!
Watering
During the first year of life, you’ll want to stay on top of watering your Red Baron crabapple tree. Keep the soil moist at all times by dousing your tree with an inch of water per week.
Once your Red Baron has matured, it can rely on rainfall for watering, and you only need to supplement it during dry spells.
Pruning
One of the most impressive features of the Red Baron crabapple tree is how little maintenance it requires. Unlike some trees that demand constant pruning and attention, this variety is perfectly content to do its own thing without any assistance.
The branches are naturally shaped in a visually pleasing manner, creating a desirable form that requires little upkeep. The small width means you won’t have to constantly cut off branches to stop them from interfering with neighboring foliage.
Despite the incredibly low maintenance of this tree, you may still wish to prune occasionally as a preventative measure for warding off diseases.
The best time to prune a crabapple tree is in the late winter or early spring before new growth appears. Begin the pruning process by removing any diseased, dead, or damaged branches, then focus on extracting any crossing limbs to prevent damage to the tree’s structure.
You may also want to thin out excess growth to improve air circulation and sunlight penetration. Remember to use clean, sharp pruning tools and make clean cuts at a slight angle.
With proper pruning, your Red Baron crabapple tree will thrive and continue to be a beautiful addition to your landscape.
Check out more tips on pruning crabapple trees.
Common Diseases
The Red Baron crabapple tree has excellent disease resistance but is not entirely immune to being preyed on by susceptible infections.
One of the most common diseases that can affect crabapple trees is apple scab. This fungal infection can cause brown spots on the leaves and fruit, which weakens the structure and causes the leaves to fall off.
Cedar apple rust is another common crabapple disease caused by a fungal pathogen that shortens the tree’s life cycle. Symptoms include yellow spots on the leaves, orange spots on the fruit, and premature defoliation.
Identifying and treating these diseases promptly is crucial to prevent further damage to your crabapple tree.
Learn about more crabapple tree diseases and how you can prevent them.
Where to Buy Trees
Do you want to include this exquisite beauty in your backyard? You can find the Red Baron crabapple tree at various retailers and nurseries, but we recommend Nature Hills for the highest quality trees.
Wrapping up the Red Baron Crabapple Tree
The Red Baron crabapple tree is a showy addition to any outdoor space, with striking red blooms, amber-tinted foliage, and ruby-red crabapples that last through the winter.
It’s low-maintenance, medium-sized, and has good disease resistance, making it the perfect tree for amateur green thumbs. Now that you know about the Red Baron crabapple tree, check out our Crabapple Tree Varieties page to learn about more species.