Crabapples are near prefect yard trees. Breath-taking spring flowers; pretty summer leaves; lovely fruit; interesting winter trunks and bark; yet small enough so there's space for other favorites. In addition to their decorative value. Crabapples are high in pectin for jelly and high in acid for vinegar. The spring flowers are adored by pollen-loving insects, including honeybees, and by hummingbirds. In the fall, I see squirrels furiously burying the fruit and the tree limbs crowded with starlings, monk parrots (South American JFK-escapees), mocking birds, robins, and finches. Other furry folk including deer, raccoons, rabbits, possum, skunk, fox and coyotes also favor crabapples. All spread the seeds. Crabapples are cold hardy into southern Canadian and stand up to heat down to northern Florida. Like most members of the rose family, crabapples, and their "eating apple" descendants like full sun, moist but well-drained, acidy soil.

Other details:
Trees like full sun
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Flowers are fragrant
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Provides winter interest
Propagation Methods:
From softwood cuttings
By grafting and budding



American Redbud or Eastern Redbud and sometimes referred to as the Judas tree as it dates back to biblical times. Tree pictured above is 5 yrs. old and 12' tall

Very handsome, small tree with gracefully ascending branches, reaches 20 to 30 feet. Perfect reddish purple flowers open to a rosy-pink, March-April. Emerging heart-shaped reddish purple leaves turn green, then yellow-green in fall. Origin: New Jersey to Florida, west to Missouri and Texas and northern Mexico. Great as a single specimen, in a group, in a shrub border, and especially nice in woodland and naturalized type landscapes. Fast growing up until about 12', then growth slows somewhat. Excellent for use under canopy of large trees and should have afternoon shade in southern zones.
Summer planting not recommended. Plant in February.




Hawthorn
There are approximately 800 kinds of these small trees or shrubs in North America. Because of individual variations and frequent cross-breeding they are very difficult to separate into species. We will not attempt to do so here. A distinctive feature of this plant is the long, straight or slightly curved, sharp thorns that arm the twigs. The leaves are alternate and conspicuously toothed. But they vary in overall shape and are difficult to categorize. Some are slightly or deeply lobed, while others are without any sign of lobes. The small, apple-like fruit usually are red or orange in color. In some species, however, the fruit are black, dark blue, or yellow. Hawthorns seem to prefer alkaline soils, and are most abundant in limestone areas. They often grow on sunny abandoned fields and pasture. Taller, slower growing trees, however, shade them, suppressing their growth. The wood is without commercial value. For some people they are a desirable ornamental tree, while for others they are a weed of pasture land. A few large mammals, including cattle, sometimes browse on young growth. Various kinds of wildlife feed on the fruit.
Tree Size: height up to 30'


The White Flowering Dogwood, Cornus Florida, is the ”aristocrat” of flowering trees because it is breathtakingly beautiful with its white blossoms. The White Flowering Dogwood has an excellent show of white blossoms in spring, and bright red berries in fall and winter. It is planted as a specimen, near a patio, or in groupings. It is a low branching tree that spreads horizontally and has a semi-rounded top. Does best in sun to part shade. This deciduous tree does best in well-drained acid soil with sufficient organic matter. Mulch to maintain a cool, moist soil. Needs summer water. The White Flowering Dogwood is one of the showiest native trees. The flowers unfold from the round, conspicuous, gray winter flower buds before the leaves come out. The white or pink flower bracts are showy and often thought to be the petals of the flower. They open in May. The fruit is a bright scarlet, relished by birds, squirrels, and other animals, which often eat the fruit before it colors and matures, usually between September and November. The wood is hard, heavy, strong, very close-grained, and brown to red in color

Fast growth rate
Plant Type: Deciduous
Size at Maturity: 10 - 20 ft






Showy yellow blossoms on the Golden Rain Tree in early summer followed by papery hanging capsules through October. Adapts to many soil types and tolerates air pollution, drought, and alkalinity. Full sun. Grows to 30' to 40', 35' spread.