ROYAL BEAUTY crabapple tree
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🌳 ROYAL BEAUTY CRABAPPLE (Malus ‘Royal beauty’)
🌿 Identity
- Scientific name: Malus ‘Royal Beauty’ (also referred to as Malus pendula ‘Royal Beauty’)
- Common name: ‘Royal Beauty’ crabapple tree
- Family: Rosaceae
- Type of plant: Ornamental tree (crabapple) with a weeping habit, decorative flowers, and persistent fruit
📐 Main characteristics
| Characteristic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Adult height | Approximately 4 to 5 m |
| Width/spread | Approximately 2 to 3 m wide (narrower habit) |
| Habit | Weeping with pendulous branches, graceful silhouette |
| Foliage | Emerging leaves are reddish-purple/copper-red, turning purple/burgundy, then bronze/red in fall |
| Flowering | Spring: red buds opening into dark pink to magenta flowers before the foliage appears |
| Fruits | Small dark red/burgundy pome fruits after flowering, usually persistent until winter |
| Exposure | Full sun recommended |
| Soil & conditions | Well-drained to slightly moist/moderate soil, adaptable; tolerates average to dry soils according to some sources |
| Hardiness zone | Up to zone 3 according to some Canadian nurseries (very good cold resistance) |
| Disease resistance | Generally good disease resistance, often used as a reliable ornamental tree |
🌼 Ornamental interest
- Very striking visual effect thanks to its weeping habit: creates an elegant silhouette, often highlighted as a solitary tree.
- Abundant, colorful flowers in spring—dark pink/magenta—that catch the eye.
- Decorative foliage throughout the season: from red/bronze to purple, then dark red fruits add an autumnal/winter dimension.
- Decorative fruits attractive to birds and wildlife, adding interest to the landscape even after the leaves have fallen.
- Well adapted to cold climates — a very good choice for regions such as Quebec or Canada.
🧰 Care & Maintenance
Location & Planting
- Choose a location in full sun for best flowering, foliage color, and overall health.
- Prepare a planting hole of suitable size, loosen the soil, and incorporate good compost if the soil is poor.
- Water well after planting to establish the tree, then moderate watering once it is well rooted.
Watering and soil
- The soil must be well-drained: avoid areas where water stagnates.
- Once established, the tree tolerates moderate conditions, but mulching around the base helps maintain moisture and limit weed competition.
Pruning & maintenance
- The natural shape is very attractive, so pruning is often limited to removing dead, broken, or poorly oriented branches.
- To maintain the weeping shape, certain branches can be gently guided or tied, depending on the desired effect.
- Structural pruning every few years can help keep the center clear and ensure good branch distribution.
Diseases & pests
- Although resistant, like all crabapple trees, it can be susceptible to certain problems if stressed → keep the soil healthy, avoid compaction, and promote aeration.
- Watch for scab, fire blight, and rust—even though this variety is known for its good tolerance.
⚠️ Points to note
- Even though the tree is “modest” in size compared to some crabapple trees, you still need to allow space for the branches and hanging branches.
- The fruit is mainly decorative—while it is theoretically edible, this is not its main use.
- In very exposed areas or extreme climates, carefully check the planting depth and possible protection for the first few years.
- In urban areas or small gardens, plant at a sufficient distance from buildings/power lines to avoid conflicts with the branches.
