Plant Finder

Other Names:  Whitney Edible Crab Apple, Crabapple

Description:

A great quality edible crabapple that is fine for jellies or pickling; very hardy and disease resistant

Edible Qualities

Whitney Flowering Crab is a small tree that is commonly grown for its edible qualities. It produces small red round apples (which are botanically known as 'pomes') with hints of yellow and creamy white flesh which are usually ready for picking from late summer to early fall. The apples have a tart taste and a firm texture.

The apples are most often used in the following ways:

• Cooking
• Preserves

Features & Attributes

Whitney Flowering Crab is draped in stunning clusters of fragrant white flowers along the branches in mid spring, which emerge from distinctive red flower buds before the leaves. It has dark green deciduous foliage. The pointy leaves turn an outstanding yellow in the fall. The fruits are showy red apples with hints of yellow, which are carried in abundance from late summer to late fall. The fruit can be messy if allowed to drop on the lawn or walkways, and may require occasional clean-up.

This is a deciduous tree with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition. This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It is a good choice for attracting birds to your yard. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Messy

Aside from its primary use as an edible, Whitney Flowering Crab is sutiable for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Shade
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Whitney Flowering Crab will grow to be about 16 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 15 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 2 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 50 years or more.

This tree is typically grown in a designated area of the yard because of its mature size and spread. It should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.