Robinson Crabapple Tree Pros and Cons, Identification, Growth Rate, Fruit

The Robinson crabapple is a cultivar of the crabapple tree that can reach a height of up to 25 feet and grows very quickly. The deciduous tree is frequently cultivated as a display tree in the backyard, where it is prized for its delectable fruits, brilliant blossoms, and vibrant fall foliage. Wildlife finds the tree to be quite alluring.

Between 15 and 25 feet is the mature height of the Robinson crabapple. The crown of the tree is rounded, and it bears oval leaves that start off purple and then turn a shade of bronzed green as they mature. When autumn arrives, the leaves take on a vibrant golden tone. Deep pink flowers are produced by the tree in the spring, and in the autumn, they are followed by vivid red fruits. In some cases, fruits may persist over the winter, providing food for birds.

Pros

A Robinson is a perfect tree to be the focal point of your front yard landscape because of its attractive appearance and charming characteristics. Everyone will slow down to see the abundance of pink and fluffy spring flowers.

These trees are a perfect size for use across the landscape; you may utilize them to provide shade, ornamental flair, and for the beauty that they provide your property during all four seasons. 

These flowering trees reach full size quickly, so you won't have to wait long to enjoy their ornamental benefits.

It is ideal for drawing in large numbers of useful pollinators in the spring with its showy display of flowers, and for luring large flocks of birds in the fall with its bountiful harvest of shiny red fruit for feeding. 

Crabapples are resilient and low-maintenance trees that can withstand harsher urban settings and air pollution while still looking excellent. 

Cons

Crabapples have a propensity for suckering, which refers to the formation of secondary "suckers" at the base of the plant. These "suckers" have the potential to develop into new trunks on the tree. Pruning should be done in the fall to prevent the growth of these suckers. If you miss the opportunity to prune before bud break, be sure to prune in late winter or early spring to eliminate undesirable suckers. 

Identification

The 'Robinson' crabapple has pink flowers and normally grows to be around 15 to 25 feet tall when fully grown. It is praised for its rounded form, deep pink blooms, red fruit, and strong resistance to disease. Oval leaves (up to 3" long) start out as purple when they are young, change to bronze-green with red veining throughout the growth season, and then change color in the fall, occasionally to bright orange. Deep pink flowers (1.5" in diameter) emerge from crimson buds in the spring. 

Growth Rate

This crabapple cultivar has a rapid growth rate. The growth rate of the Robinson Crabapple is 1-2 feet each year. When fully grown, this deep pink blooming tree can reach heights of up to 15 feet and widths of 25 feet. This makes it a great tree for making shade once it's grown up.

Fruit

The Robinson Crabapple is a blooming tree with eye-catching crimson buds that open to deep pink flowers in the spring and then develop into medium-sized dark red fruits that remain on the tree until the fall. In the spring, the leaves are purple and green, but in the summer, they turn into dark green color. The Robinson Crabapple is extremely disease resistant and has an upright, modestly spreading habit.