PURPLE SPIRE CRABAPPLE

PURPLE SPIRE CRABAPPLE Homeowner Growing & Maintenance Tips

• Recommended Soil:
• Choose well-drained soil with moderate fertility and consistent moisture for the best overall growth.
• Purple Spire® is adaptable to a range of soil types and can perform in both heavier and lighter soils when drainage is adequate.
• Avoid locations that remain persistently waterlogged, as crabapples perform best when excess moisture can drain away.
• Mulch over the root zone to conserve moisture and moderate soil temperatures, keeping mulch away from direct contact with the trunk.
• Sun Exposure:
• Full sun is strongly recommended for the richest foliage color, flowering, and fruit production.
• Choose an open location with several hours of direct sunlight throughout the day.
• Good air movement around the canopy can help maintain healthy foliage and reduce disease pressure.
• A sunny position also helps the narrow crown maintain its dense, architectural appearance.
• Irrigation Needs:
• Provide regular moisture during establishment and during extended periods of summer dryness.
• Water deeply enough to thoroughly moisten the root zone rather than relying on frequent, shallow irrigation.
• Once established, Purple Spire® has useful drought tolerance, but prolonged severe dryness can still cause stress.
• Avoid constantly saturated soil, particularly around the trunk and main root zone.
• Feeding & Nutrients:
• Begin with reasonably fertile soil and use fertilizer only when growth or soil testing indicates a need.
• A balanced, slow-release tree fertilizer can be applied in spring when supplemental nutrition is appropriate.
• Compost or other organic matter can help maintain soil structure and nutrient availability when incorporated appropriately before planting.
• Avoid excessive nitrogen, which can encourage overly vigorous leafy growth without improving flowering or overall form.
• Pruning & Maintenance:
• Prune selectively to preserve the naturally narrow, columnar silhouette and remove damaged, crossing, or poorly positioned branches.
• Late winter pruning is generally suitable once the danger of extreme cold has passed, while light shaping can also be performed after flowering.
• Avoid unnecessary midsummer pruning, particularly during periods of heat and drought stress.
• Monitor occasionally for common crabapple issues such as fire blight, apple scab, and tent caterpillars, even though Purple Spire® offers useful disease resistance.

Family: Rosaceae · Common Name: Apple / Crabapple

FREE with every plant purchased:

• The Sooner Guarantee: For details, click here!
• A pre-applied, pre-measured amount of time release fertilizer that keeps your plant well nourished for up to one year.
• Pre-hydrated Hydro-Gels are included in the top of each container to use when planting as they help retain soil moisture, and plants will establish more quickly with less transplant shock. Plants will also survive drought-like conditions and accidental missed waterings better.
• Planting and Care Instruction brochure.
• Catalogs of new and exciting plant brands, such as Garden Debut® and Proven Winners®.

We use and recommend www.dripdepot.com for our irrigation needs, from simple to install micro and drip systems, to commercial grade irrigation parts and supplies.

Interesting Notes About PURPLE SPIRE CRABAPPLE

• A Tale of Two Nurseries: Jeffries Nurseries and Bylands Nurseries jointly introduced Purple Spire®, bringing the selection from Canadian breeding work into the ornamental tree trade market. It has since become especially valued for its compact columnar architecture and colorful foliage.
• Not Exactly a Flower Show-Off: Compared with many flowering crabapples, Purple Spire® produces relatively sparse flowers and fruit. That's actually part of its charm: the cultivar was selected heavily for its distinctive form and purple foliage, making it more of a foliage-and-architecture specialist than a bloom-heavy spectacle.
• Purple Berry Eaters: The ornamental fruit that follows flowering can persist into the cooler months and provides food for birds. Cedar waxwings and other fruit-eating birds may visit crabapples, giving this highly architectural tree extra wildlife value after its foliage show winds down.