Royal Raindrops Crabapple Malus Royal Raindrops® 'JFS-KW5'
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- MAY-lus
- Description
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'JFS-KW5', commonly sold as Royal Raindrops®, is a flowering crabapple tree. It is a cultivar of Malus, a genus of over 50 species of flowering deciduous trees or shrubs in the Roseaceae (rose) family. This cultivar is disease-resistant with a dense rounded canopy, magenta-pink spring flowers, and edible fruit. At maturity, it will reach a height of 20 feet with a 16 foot spread. It comes from Malus transitoria 'Schmidtcutleaf' and is an open-pollinated seedling.
Royal Raindrops crabapple is easy to grow and does best sited in full sun, well-drained, slightly acidic soil, with consistent moisture. It is tolerant of a range of soil types, air pollution and drought once established. If pruning is required, prune this tree as needed in late winter. Spring pruning leaves behind fresh, open cuts where fireblight bacterium can enter.
The crabapples persist on the tree into early winter and are an attractive food source for birds. Use it a specimen tree, street tree, or planted in small groups.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
Crabapple diseases include scab, fire blight, rusts, leaf spot and powdery mildew. Insect pests are of lesser concern and include tent caterpillars, aphids, Japanese beetles, borers and scale. Spider mites may occur. However, Royal Raindrops crabapple has good disease resistance to the main diseases of crabapples.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Malus
- Family:
- Roseacae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds are attracted to the fruits and butterflies to the flowers.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 12 ft. 0 in. - 16 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Pome
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Maroon crabapples (pomes), 1/4 inch in diameter, mature in late summer and persist into winter providing food for birds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Corymb
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Wheel
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Magenta pink single flowers with 5 petals appear in April.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Deeply lobed purple leaves. Young leaves have entire margins. Orange-red fall color. Retains excellent color throughout summer.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Small Space
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Flowering Tree
- Small groups
- Small Tree
- Specimen
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Compaction
- Diseases
- Drought
- Pollution
