What: The great plant breeder Donald Egolf selected this flowering crabapple at the National Arboretum. Malus “Adirondack” is consistently rated high across the country as being a superior crabapple. Crimson buds open to crystalline white flowers with tints of red are densely cloth the strongly vertical form. It is one of the most profusely flowered of all crabapple cultivars. Fruits are red to orange-red, half-inch in diameter and last well into December for a very long display. The upright form makes this tree excellent in highly formal settings and where space is limited.
Where: This crabapple grows best and is most disease resistant in full sun. It will adapt to varying soils, including sandy sites and clay, as long as the location does not have standing water during the winter.
Size: This upright tree grows to be 18 feet tall and 10 feet wide when mature.
Care: Once established, “Adirondack” is drought tolerant. This selection was chosen for its superior disease resistance in the maritime Pacific Northwest. Prune young trees for good branch structure. Older trees should have limited pruning only to remove dead, broken or poorly formed branches. Pruning this tree can be tricky for the beginner, so consult an experienced pruner or take local classes before attempting to prune.
— Richie Steffen, Great Plant Picks
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