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Malus Prairiefire - Crab Apple

Malus Prairiefire
Apple Tree, Crab Apple

5,0/5
4 reviews
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Very beautiful dark pink flowers

Martin, 18/04/2022

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This plant carries a 24 months recovery warranty

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Value-for-money
A flowering ornamental apple tree with a lovely rounded pyramidal habit. Bright pink flowers are followed by young foliage that turns from purple to green-purple, while small dark red glazed apples form in autumn. The winter reveals the reddish bark of this interesting little tree throughout the year. Highly prized in the USA, this disease-resistant variety is ready to make a remarkable appearance in our gardens!
Flower size
3 cm
Height at maturity
6 m
Spread at maturity
4 m
Exposure
Sun, Partial shade
Hardiness
Hardy down to -29°C
Soil moisture
Moist soil
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Best planting time March, October
Recommended planting time February to April, September to November
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Flowering time April to May
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Description

Malus 'Prairiefire' is a superb variety of ornamental apple tree from America that combines the following qualities: its vibrant pink flowering, early and abundant in spring, surprises with its vivacity, its foliage adopts a beautiful purple shade turning green-purple in summer, while small apples form and will gradually turn a dark red colour in autumn and persist on the branches for a long time. Winter reveals the reddish bark of this small tree with its attractive pyramidal and rounded shape, which appeals throughout the year. Highly prized in the USA, this disease-resistant variety is about to make a remarkable appearance in our gardens!

Ornamental apple trees come from various botanical species of the genus Malus belonging to the rose family. Hardy, accommodating, and easy to grow, flowering apple trees thrive in ordinary soil but prefer loamy, deep, loose, and fresh soil and sunny exposures. Once established, they can withstand being forgotten while maintaining their generous nature. Numerous cultivars have emerged, both in Europe and in the United States, becoming increasingly attractive and disease-resistant. 'Prairiefire', on the other hand, was developed at the University of Illinois in 1982. This cultivar is now one of the most planted across the Atlantic.

As a large shrub or small tree, the 'Prairiefire' ornamental apple tree has an upright habit in its early years. Over time, the crown becomes rounded, resembling the silhouette of a broad pyramid. It sometimes develops more in width than in height, depending on the training size. At maturity, it reaches an average size of 6 m (19 ft 8 in) in height and 4 m (13 ft 1 in) in spread.  It maintains a harmonious shape without the need for pruning and develops a fine wood covered with a beautifully tinted red bark.

Flowering occurs as early as April, on bare branches, in the form of numerous buds of an almost red-pink. They open into simple flowers, measuring 3.5 to 4 cm (1.4 to 1.6 in) in diameter, with an intense pink-purple colour. These flowers, gathered in small clusters, are followed by young leaves of a dark purple colour that will lighten and turn green in summer. The flowering is followed by the formation of a multitude of small apples resembling cherries, measuring 1 to 1.2 cm (0.4 to 0.5 in) in diameter. When fully ripe in late summer, they turn a dark purple-red colour with brown undertones. Highly sought after by birds, these fruits remain on the shrub during half of the winter, until December. The deciduous foliage is composed of ovate, alternate, and dentate leaves. It is worth noting that this variety, slightly susceptible to scab, is quite resistant to apple tree diseases.

Malus 'Prairiefire', like many flowering apple trees, is a good pollinator for early-flowering fruit trees. Its abundant flowering, although possibly less enduring than that of a flowering cherry tree, is prolonged by the beauty of its foliage from spring to autumn and by the beauty of its fruits. Its habit and bark add to the charm of this remarkable plant with an astonishing personality. It will find its place in medium to large gardens, in a loose hedge, for example, accompanying a large shrub or climbing roses trained as bushes, evergreen Viburnums, or lilacs. When space allows, ornamental apple trees planted as a tall hedge on a slope bordering a sunken path create a rather magical scene in spring and autumn with their often sumptuous colours at the end of the season.

 

Malus Prairiefire - Crab Apple in pictures

Malus Prairiefire - Crab Apple (Flowering) Flowering
Malus Prairiefire - Crab Apple (Foliage) Foliage
Malus Prairiefire - Crab Apple (Plant habit) Plant habit

Plant habit

Height at maturity 6 m
Spread at maturity 4 m
Habit Irregular, bushy
Growth rate normal

Flowering

Flower colour red
Flowering time April to May
Inflorescence Corymb
Flower size 3 cm
Bee-friendly Attracts pollinators
Fruit colour red

Foliage

Foliage persistence Deciduous
Foliage colour purple

Botanical data

Genus

Malus

Cultivar

Prairiefire

Family

Rosaceae

Other common names

Apple Tree, Crab Apple

Origin

Cultivar or hybrid

Product reference8417511

Other Malus - Crabapple

26
29,50 € 3L/4L pot

Available in 4 sizes

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79,00 € 7.5L/10L pot
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45,00 € 7.5L/10L pot
5
From 24,50 € 4L/5L pot
12
29,50 € 4L/5L pot

Available in 3 sizes

Out of stock
75,00 € 7.5L/10L pot
6
From 59,00 € 7.5L/10L pot
4
From 24,50 € 4L/5L pot
13
85,00 € 7.5L/10L pot

Available in 2 sizes

Planting and care

Easy to grow in ordinary but deep soil, Malus 'Prairiefire' requires a bright exposure. Ornamental Malus trees are generally very accommodating, but they like fertile, fresh, and deep soils. After careful planting and installation with regular watering during the first two years, they manage on their own. Place it in the sun or partial shade in fresh, fairly rich but well-drained soil, giving it room to spread. Dig a large planting hole. If the soil is poor, add compost to the planting soil and apply fertiliser or compost to its base every spring. To prevent diseases, treat with Bordeaux mixture in spring.

Planting period

Best planting time March, October
Recommended planting time February to April, September to November

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow
Type of use Border, Free-standing
Hardiness Hardy down to -29°C (USDA zone 5) Show map
Ease of cultivation Beginner
Planting density 1 per m2
Exposure Sun, Partial shade
Soil pH Any
Soil type Clayey (heavy), Clayey-chalky (heavy and alkaline), Silty-loamy (rich and light)
Soil moisture Moist soil, rich, deep and loose

Care

Pruning No pruning necessary
Soil moisture Moist soil
Disease resistance Good
Overwinter Can be left in the ground
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