Prairi Fire Crabapple

Malus 'Prairifire'

The Prairifire Crabapple is a beautiful and popular ornamental tree known for its stunning spring blossoms and vibrant fruit. Here's everything you need to know about it:

1. Appearance: The Prairifire Crabapple is a deciduous tree that typically grows to a height of 15-20 feet (4.5-6 meters) with a spread of 15-25 feet (4.5-7.5 meters). It has a rounded shape and dense branching. The leaves are dark green, turning reddish-purple in the fall.

2. Flowers: In spring, the tree produces abundant clusters of deep pink to red flowers. These blossoms are not only visually appealing but also attract pollinators like bees and butterflies to your garden.

3. Fruit: After the flowers fade, small red fruits start to develop. These fruits are about 1/2 inch in diameter and persist into winter, providing a food source for birds. They can also add a pop of color to your landscape.

MAINTENANCE NEEDS: Medium Maintenance. Regular water in first year, planted in well draining soil, fertilize yearly.  Watch for scab, fire blight, rusts, leaf spot and powdery mildew. Potential pests include tent caterpillars, aphids, Japanese beetles, borers and scale. Spider mites may occur.

LANDSCAPE USES:  Accents or Group Plantings, Borders, Wildlife Gardens, Shade Tree, Edible Garden, and Container.

COMPANION PLANTS: Gibraltar Azalea, Oakleaf Hydrangea,  Gardenia Radicans

IMAGES:  Hardyplants at  English Wikipedia,  Crab apple flowers, marked as public domain, more details on  Wikimedia Commons, (2) Photo by David J. Stang,  Malus Prairie Fire 0zz, CC BY-SA 4.0, (3) Photo by David J. Stang,  Malus x Prairie Fire 0zz, CC BY-SA 4.0, (4) Photo by rochelle hartman, Blooming crabapple