Crabapples are near perfect yard trees. Starting with breath-taking spring flower, followed by pretty summer leaves of green or red, covered with tart fruit in fall and finally interesting winter structure and bark. These trees are definitely a year round performer in your garden. The spring flowers are adored by pollen-loving insects, including honeybees, and hummingbirds, the fruit can be used in jellies or feed for the birds and squirrels. There are many different styles and colours available making them one of the most popular trees for gardeners everywhere. Their beautiful blossom signal the beginning of another gardening season.
Here are a few of our favourites here at Gemmell's:
Hopa Crabapple
Dark red-purple buds open to pretty pink flowers with a white centre. Edible red-yellow fruit excellent for jelly. Disease resistant
Zone 3
Full Sun
Grows 26' x 26'
Profusion Crabapple
A profusion of dark red buds open to purple-red flowers that to fade to pink. New foliage emerges purple and matures to bronze -green. Maroon fruit in fall.
Zone 4
Full Sun
Grows 20' x20
Royalty Crabapple
Bright crimson flowers cover this upright rounded tree. New leaves emerge glossy purple and mature to bronze in the fall. Small red fruit.
Zone 3
Full Sun
Grows 16' x 16'
Spring Snow Crabapple
Dainty clusters of white flowers shower this pretty crabapple resembling spring snow. It is the only variety that is fruitless. Works well in small spaces and backyards due to it's compact habit.
Zone 3
Full Sun
Grows 20' x 14'
Coral Burst Crabapple
This standard crabapple is a lovely specimen tree.
Soft pink flowers with deep green foliage that turns brilliant bronze in fall.
Zone 4
Full Sun
Grows 5-8ft tall and wide
Crabapples are on sale this week at Gemmell's as we celebrate the long weekend and kick off the planting season. 40% off!
Lastly, I'd like to personally invite you all to attend our floral art show this weekend with an amazing local artist, Mike Laking. I met Mike last fall when he dropped in to show me a piece that he did of our funky yellow orchid cactus. His work is truly stunning and after talking we decided what better place to show off these beautiful pieces than in our newly renovated glass greenhouse. So this weekend you can catch Mike set up in the greenhouse were he'll be working on some pieces and wander through and admire his artwork. He'll have canvases as large as 16x20, also, 11x14 and 8x10 including greeting cards. Mike also does commision work. He'll also be having a door prize for one of his pieces 'Morning Awakening' a delicate pink orchid that won third in class-Orchid Photography at the 2009 Ottawa Orchid Show. Hope you can make it!
