Abstract

ABSTRACT

NICHOLS, L.P. 1982. Eleven excellent crabapples. Am. Nurseryman 156(7): 90-95.

What are the best crabapples? I have looked at thousands of them for disease resistance over a 20-year period, and people keep asking that question. I submit the following list of my favorites. Of course, being a plant pathologist, I may be slightly in favor of crabapples that have disease resistance. But I am enough of a horticulturist and plant lover to concede that one might put up with a slight amount of disease, especially in the case of trees of outstanding beauty. With all crabapples, one must look further than the beauty presented at bloom time. One must consider the foliage characteristics during summer and the often neglected beauty of a show of red, orange, or yellow fruit in fall and into winter.