Malus 'Prairie Rose

Prairie Rose Crabapple

Malus ‘Prairie Rose’ is a deciduous flowering crabapple tree valued for its very fragrant, double deep pink spring flowers, green foliage, and usually fruitless habit. It is generally described as a rounded small tree and is especially useful for gardeners who want showy crabapple bloom without much fruit drop.

Type: Deciduous flowering tree
Mature Size: 20' W x 20' H
USDA Zones: 4a–8b
Form: Rounded, small tree
Light: Full sun
Soil / Water: Well-drained soil; moderate water
Bloom Time / Length: Spring
Wildlife: Pollinators; limited bird value if fruit is absent or sparse

Features & Landscape Uses: Excellent as a specimen tree, lawn tree, or accent near patios and entries where the flower fragrance can be appreciated. A major selling point is its usually fruitless character, which reduces mess compared with heavily fruiting crabapples. J. Frank Schmidt also rates it good for scab and mildew resistance, fair for fire blight, and poor for cedar-apple rust resistance.

Care: Plant in full sun with good air circulation and well-drained soil. Water regularly while establishing, then during dry spells as needed. Prune lightly after bloom if shaping is needed. Because rust resistance is reported as poor, it is worth being cautious in areas with heavy cedar-apple rust pressure. 

Plant type

Flowering Ornamental Tree

Height

20'

Width

20'

Hardiness zones

4–8

Sunlight

Full Sun

Bloom time

Spring

Flower color

Pink

Leaf color

Dark Green

Fall color

Yellow

Attracts

Bees, Birds

Soil

Moist well-drained

Landscape use

Accent Plant, Specimen

Shape

Rounded

Fragrant

Yes

Drought tolerant

No