If you’re interested in a crabapple tree that displays some darker tones throughout the entire growing season, then the Robinson crabapple tree is the right crabapple cultivar for you. Also known as Malus ‘Robinson,’ this plant begins the season with a set of dark pink blooms.
I. Appearance and Characteristics
The Robinson Crab Apple is a superb choice for a small spring-flowering tree in colder parts of the country. It will bloom reliably where other spring trees fail. In warmer areas it continues the spring display into May, as well as carrying clusters of attractive bright red fruit right into the winter months. It grows into a small tree, 15 to 25 feet tall, and a similar width, with a rounded crown.
The young spring leaves are a rich purple, emerging just as the flowers fade. They change for the summer into deep green, and then turn orange in the fall. The flowers begin as burgundy-red buds, open deep pink, and then turn paler pink, before ending almost white. The kaleidoscope of colors makes the tree always interesting throughout all the seasons.
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
Your Robinson crabapple tree will grow best where it can receive full sunlight but will likely tolerate partial shade.
Watering and Fertilizing
During the summer, you should supply your Robinson crabapple tree with about 1 inch of water each week to help it combat the heat. During the spring and fall, your plant won’t need much water at all, as long as it is well-established. By contrast, newly planted trees should receive water often enough to maintain consistent soil moisture. Feed this plant once per year in spring. Use a fertilizer that has a balanced ratio of nutrients. Alternatively, you can use a nitrogen-rich fertilizer if you notice that your plant is not putting forth much new growth.
Pollination
The Robinson crabapple tree is a self-pollinating species. As such, you need only one plant to produce crabapples. In spring, this tree will use its many flowers to attract honey bees and other pollinator insects. While feeding on nectar, those insects will transfer pollen from flower to flower to conduct pollination. Most people don’t grow this plant for harvest purposes, but if you are among the few who do, you should plant more than one Robinson crabapple tree as this can drastically increase fruit production.
Planting Instructions
The Robinson crabapple tree survives in USDA hardiness zones 4-8 and can adapt to either partial shade or full sunlight, with the latter being preferable. Like most crabapples, this tree can adapt to a wide range of soil types but will show the best growth when planted in soils that are loamy, with good drainage and a moderate amount of acidity. Upon removing your new plant from its container, loosen the roots to encourage them to spread once planted. Then dig a hole that is as deep as the root ball is tall and twice as wide.
Pruning
The best time to prune a Robinson crabapple tree is during the late winter or early spring, when this plant is just returning to its active growth phase. When pruning, always use pruning tools that are as sharp and clean as can be to reduce the risk of disease spread. Pruning for a Robinson crabapple tree should include general shaping and thinning of the canopy. You can also remove any branch that is broken, damaged or showing signs of disease.
Pests and Diseases
There are a few diseases that are common among crabapple trees. Some of those diseases include apple scab, cedar apple rust and leaf spots. However, the good news is that the Robinson crabapple tree has better resistance to disease than most other crabapple varieties. Pests can be an occasional issue for this tree, including Japanese beetles, scale insects, borers and aphids. However, the Robinson crabapple tree often has decent resistance to pest infestations as well.
III. Uses and Benefits
The Robinson crabapple tree has an immense ornamental value that includes vibrant flowers, interesting foliage and a pleasing growth habit. Those traits make this plant the ideal specimen for nearly any garden. However, while it is easy for this plant to steal the show and catch the eye of any garden visitor, it can also act as an accent plant. From a more functional perspective, your Robinson crabapple tree may grow tall enough to provide some shade as well.
IV. Harvesting and Storage
In most cases, gardeners grow the Robinson crabapple tree strictly for its ornamental features. Despite that, the crabapples that this plant produces are technically edible. In their raw form, crabapples tend to have a tart or sour taste that is not all that pleasing to most people’s palates. However, it is possible to incorporate crabapples into jams to make them a bit more appetizing. If you grow a Robinson crabapple tree, there is no reason that you can’t try harvesting and cooking with your crabapples.
