The Best Crabapples for Birds and ‘Layered Garden’ Winner
Last week I got a new crabapple tree for the space where the flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) had died. Usually I plant bareroot trees myself, but this time we shelled out for a tree from the nursery that was about 9′ and too heavy for me to plant on my own.
In addition to being highly ornamental, crabapples are great trees for the birds. There’s the fruit, of course, but birds also eat buds and flowers, as well as the insects that are drawn to the flowers and other parts of the tree.
There are native crabs such as Iowa crabapple (Malus ioensis), but native plant advocate Doug Tallamy maintains that most hybrid crabs are so genetically similar to the natives that they are equally attractive to native insects. In his book Bringing Nature Home he found this to be an exception to the rule. (You may think being attractive to insects is a bad thing, but what would insect-eating birds do without insect-attracting trees?)
Crabapples tend to be prone to diseases such as fire blight, scab and various rusts, so it is important to plant varieties that are disease resistant in your area. Trees planted in full sun and moist but well-drained soil will also be less susceptible to disease. Fortunately for Chicago area gardeners, the Chicago Botanic Garden has done extensive testing of crabapple varieties.
The variety I chose is called ‘Golden Raindrops’. This is a more compact, vase-shaped crab with white flowers and small yellow fruits (hence the name). It is disease resistant, pollution-tolerant, and adaptable regarding soil acidity. It is also supposed to be somewhat shade tolerant.
Small fruits tend to be most appealing to birds. I have a ‘Donald Wyman’ crabapple in the front, but I realized too late that the 1/2″ fruits are too large to attract many birds. Some do get eaten in late winter but I think mostly by starlings and larger birds. There is an ornamental plus side, though, as the fruits are persistent. But in general, “persistent fruit” translates to “less attractive to birds”.
Here are some other crabapples that are favored by birds:
- Japanese flowering crabapple (Malus floribunda) Fragrant pink flowers.
- Zumi crabapple (Malus x zumi ‘Calocarpa’). Large clusters of pink-white flowers.
- Sargent crabapple (Malus sargentii). A small, shrubby crab with frangrant white flowers.
- ‘Red Jade’ Crabapple. A beautiful weeping crab with white flowers and orange-red fruit. Considered disease resistant by the Chicago Botanic Garden.
Of course, it’s not just the fruit that makes crabapples a good wildlife tree, so don’t feel too guilty if you want a crab with larger, persistent fruits.
Do you have a favorite crabapple?
***On an entirely different front, I’m pleased to announce that Nicole of My Garden Diaries has won the copy of David Culp’s The Layered Garden. Nicole, can you email me your mailing address? You can contact me through the “About” page.
gardeninacity 
Very pretty. I’ve never grown a crabapple tree but I can certainly see the value!
It’s an old standby but a good one.
Your tree looks like a beauty. I’ve never grown a crabapple either but my garden mentor had a gorgeous one.
They’re gorgeous as long as they stay healthy.
I don’t have a favorite but I do have a maroon leaved, pink flowered one in the front yard. Its name was forgotten a long time ago, but I think it was mis-tagged anyhow.
I think there must be hundreds of varieties of crabapple.
I really enjoyed the informative tutorial on flowering crabs and really appreciate your views on managing a whole eco system…I wish more gardeners shared that perspective.
Glad you enjoyed it.
Ha! It is pure coincidence of course but my crabapple that I just planted in my front bed not but 2 months ago is showing horrible signs of disease at the moment….I am actually calling the nursery tomorrow. Yours is so stunning! I will have to look up the name of mine as I don’t have it off hand but I would be interested to hear what your opinion is. The variety I was told was supposed to be disease resistant which is why I went for it….we shall see what unfolds! Until then I will just enjoy yours!
The nursery should know the name, I’m curious what it is, especially if it was supposed to be disease resistant.
I only have one crabapple yet, called ” Makamik”. It has the most wonderful pink flowers in the spring, and red small apples. I´m not sure that the birds eat the apples.
I am definitely going to have more crabapple trees. They fit nicely in the garden, as they are not too big. Hope your tree is a healthy one.
I hope so too! One upside of the cool, rainy weather we have been having is that it is good for transplants.
I really like crab apples, its nice to splash out too on a larger tree, we grow John Downie at home, which the birds like and I planted a bare root Red Sentinel for a friend last winter. I think that last one has similar qualities to your ‘Donald Wyman’.
I agree it’s nice to plant a bigger tree, especially as I can be very impatient.
A crab apple is a wonderful choice. Flowers and fruit, sometimes even autumn colour.
I didn’ t know Golden Raindrops so I looked it up and found that it is a Malus transitoria which I love. I have a little tree grown from the seed of one in my previous garden. It is a lovely little tree with pretty leaves and loads of fruit like little yellow beads. An excellent choice!
Thanks for the research on Golden Raindrops, I didn’t know about M. transitoria. It is supposed to have good orange fall color, which I am looking forward to.
Love love love crab apples – and good for you for springing for the 9 foot job! I’m in the market for a small, multi-season interest tree for my back yard and have considered crab apple, but I’m scared of the disease issue. And I think crab apples are better suited to the north.
I think you may be right, but you have lots of fine southeastern natives to choose from.
Congratulations on your new tree! We had some kind of crabapple growing in the backyard when I was a kid. I always thought it was magnificent in the spring.
Spring is the best season, but fall can be really nice also.
Really an all year tree. Now I miss crabapples. Oh dear.
I don’t have a favorite as they seem to plant mostly “prairie fire” and ‘spring snow’ around here. I would like to check out a few you have mentioned, especially the Japanese flowering variety. Thank you.
Prairie Fire seems to make up the bulk of the crabs sold in nurseries in this area.
I love seeing crabapple blooming Jason, yours is beautiful! I ‘m sure the birds love your new tree. Good purchase!
Thank you!
Crab apple trees are very popular here in Scotland. There are some lovely ones out there. You’ve made a lovely choice and the fact that it’s a decent size makes a real impact there.
I’m sure your insects and birds appreciate all your effort Jason.
I hope so. Nothing worse than an ungrateful insect.
It looks like it’s always been there!
I can attest to the fact that apples and crabapples are great trees for wildlife. Everything seems to want a piece of my apple tree, from the winter bark to the spring shoots, to the blooms, to the fruit (if I ever see any). I always tell people who are looking for wildlife plants to start with blueberries and cherries. You’ll fight to get a single fruit but the whole time the birds and others will appreciate your efforts.
Very wise advice! Plus you can always get apples for people to eat at the farmers market.
What a wonderful choice, good for you and the wildlife. It does look happy where it is and what lovely fruit it has.xxx
It has just a few fruits now, but I’m hoping for much more next year.
Tiny is my favorite. I have Royal Gem and took out a Sargent. I found the birds and bees especially like all crabapple. Small fruit is better for most birds, but they take the larger fruit on Royal Gem the day they are ripe. None last.
I wonder if there are differences other than size between Royal Gem and Donald Wyman that explains the difference in how fast they are eaten by birds.
Nice selection! We have three Crabapples, but they weren’t marked when we moved in so I’ve never know exactly what variety they are. The Cedar Waxwings like the Crabapples, as do lots of other songbirds. And they smell incredible. The only problem is that the blooms don’t last very long. 😦
That’s very true. Plus a good rainstorm can put an quick end to the flower display. Still, they have other features after the flowers are done.
I am hoping on of these years soon my black cherry and crab apple trees will grow more and produce fruit.
Do you know of anyone who could tell me if birds like the fruits of the Starlite crabapple? I want to make sure the crabapple I plant has good tasting fruits for birds.
I’m not sure, but generally smaller fruits are more attractive to birds, so check the size of the fruits. If they are smaller than 1/3 of an inch, they’re probably good.
I would add that for southern areas (or non migratory birds) is where persistent fruits shine. My two Malus perpetua evereste are a perpetual chirping area from December to February.
Sounds perfect!