Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

nafex - Re: [NAFEX] nafex Digest, Vol 60, Issue 3

nafex@lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: "John Bunker" <jbunker@gwi.net>
  • To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [NAFEX] nafex Digest, Vol 60, Issue 3
  • Date: Wed, 02 Jan 2008 21:34:17 -0500

Tom,
Most crabs drop their fruit as they ripen in late summer or early fall.
Although some of these have excellent fruit for jelly or fresh eating, they
are not much good for wildlife since they fall and rot quickly. Dolgo, for
example, will not hang on the tree. Malus fusca (Oregon Crab) would not be
hardy in New England. The best wildlife crabapples are those with fruit
that hangs on for weeks or months. These so-called persistent fruited crabs
are often extremely beautiful well into winter. A good place to view
specimens is at the Arnold Arboretum in Boston. Some of these are available
through Fedco. Some are available through various other catalogs as well.
Here are a few of my favorite persistent crabs that are not too hard to
locate.
Donald Wyman- The best of all persistent crabs. A large open spreading tree
20 ft high x 30 ft accross. Beautiful white bloom. Masses of cherry-sized
fruit that hangs until spring when the birds will strip it.
Sargent- The best of the small persistent crabs. The most beautiful
specimen I know is at Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge Mass. It's only 8
feet tall but 35 feet across and pretzel-shaped. White bloom, masses of
cherry-sized fruit that hangs into winter. Will be eaten sooner than DW.
Indian Magic- Medium-sized tree with pink flowers. Found in Many catalogs.
Mary Potter- Rare. Large though not as large as Donald Wyman. (about 15 x
30) Unusual apricot colored bloom. Fruit is smaller.
Red Jade- Weeping crab. Will grow to be roughly 18 x 18. Will weep to the
ground. You can set up a table and chairs under the canopy. Blooms white.
Red fruit smaller than a cherry. Persists into winter but not all the way to
spring. Birds will devour the fruit once it freezes a few times.
Golden Hornet- Medium-sized tree with masses of brilliant yellow
cherry-sized fruit. If you like yellow, this one is a good choice. I'm
sure how long the fruit persists.
Adams - Deep pink blooms with a slight purple cast, though not garish.
Small-medium sized tree. Foliage has a reddish cast. Red fruit. Generally
available.
John Bunker
Fedco
P.O. Box 520
Waterville ME 04903
phone: 207 873-7333
fax: 207 872-8317
<fedcoseeds.com>





Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page