Those of you driving around the Four Corners area this spring have certainly noticed the profusion of color in the past week. How could one miss it? Whites, pink, and reds all seem to be bursting from the trees, and much of the show is provided to us courtesy of flowering crab apples.

In the past, crab apples have gotten a bad rap as a undesirable tree for the homeowner mostly because of the mess that they were notorious for in the fall when the fruit dropped. With the introduction of new species, many of which have persistent fruit, and some of which are sterile, this is no longer the case. Crab apple trees are now an outstanding choice for landscape planting. With their showy flowers in the spring followed by small fruit that are decorative and stay on the tree through late winter when they finally shrivel and disappear into the grass, they are versatile to a fault and are suitable for homes, parks, commercial and public buildings. They can be used along driveways or walks or for screening along fences. Some stay relatively small, and are suited for our smaller yards. Valued for their foliage, flowers, shape and size as well as fruit, crab apples now provide color and interest year-round.

Flowering generally from late April to early June, the crab apple is adaptable to varying soil conditions and, as trees go, will require little or only light pruning. Once established, the tree will thrive with little care which is also a desirable trait for today’s busy families.

There are many varieties which do well in the Four Corners area. If you see a tree that you like, ask the owner which one it is. With up to 600 varieties, there is sure to be one to suit your needs. Local nurseries carry about 20 of these species, giving a wide range of choices for our zones.

If you like white, then Spring Snow is a good choice for you. A sterile variety, it bears little, if any, fruit but has beautiful pure white, fragrant blossoms in the spring. It is a newer variety. Sugar Time is another good choice. This white blooming variety has red fruit – generally the berries are in the half-inch range, and it is also a good choice for small yards.

Some of the best pink and red blooming crab apples are Profusion and Indian Magic. Profusion has rose-red blooms with dark purple fruit. Indian Magic is a showy tree with red buds that bloom as large, deep pink flowers. The bright red fruit on this tree is small – also about a half-inch and is persistent which means it will stay into the winter and provide food for the birds in your yard. Providing fruit for the birds in the fall and winter is the reason why many people plant crab apple trees, so this is certainly something to consider when making your choices.

If you think of jelly and other foods when you think of crab apples, then there are only a few trees that are suitable. Dolgo is one crab apple that does well in this area and will provide fruit for culinary uses. It is a very hardy variety, down to a Zone 2, which is up to about 10,000 feet and blooms with large numbers of white flowers, followed by bright red fruit. The Brandywine and Bechtel varieties also produce fruit which can be consumed, but generally they taste like grapefruit and the recommended usage for these are as an additive in cider or some other recipe.

It’s a beautiful spring this year so get out and enjoy the colors that Mother Nature has provided, and while you’re at it, thank a flowering crab apple for it’s part in the display. Or plant one of your own so that you can enjoy the same colors in your yard next spring!

Gail Vanik can be reached at 970-565-8274 or by email at [email protected].