Spring Snow Crabapple: Tips for Flowering Crabapple Care

The Malus ‘Spring Snow’ crabapple is a fruitless, flowering tree that produces white blooms. These fragrant flowers appear for one to two weeks in the spring. After this time, the petals fall to cover the ground like a light dusting of snow—hence the tree’s common name. The tree is similar to the ‘Donald Wyman,’ another fruitless variety of crabapple with pink buds and white flowers.

Gardeners, landscapers, and homeowners alike can use a ‘Spring Snow’ crabapple tree for more than its profusion of luxurious white blossoms. Consider these reasons to add the plant to a lawn:

1. 1. Attracting birds and pollinator insects: The ‘Spring Snow’ produces attractive, fragrant white flowers and a high pollen count when in bloom. This attracts bees, hummingbirds, and other beneficial pollinators to explore your yard, ultimately improving your garden’s biodiversity. Additionally, beneficial birds and insects can, in some cases, help to decrease the population of predatory insects that would otherwise spread plant diseases.
2. 2. Creating shade: This deciduous tree grows about two feet per year, reaching a mature height of twenty to twenty-five feet. The ‘Spring Snow’ crabapple can provide a small yard with partial shade that will not drastically overshadow herbs, vegetables, annuals, perennials, and other plants. Additionally, you can plant this fruitless crabapple, so it shades a patio or walkway without worrying about fallen fruit every autumn; however, keep in mind the tree’s spring blooms will drop each year.
3. 3. Enhancing curb appeal: Homeowners, landscapers, and gardeners use these ornamental trees to improve the curb appeal of properties year-round. While the tree’s blooming period is its standout feature, the dense green leaves take on an attractive shape while providing shade throughout the spring and summer. In the autumn, the leaves turn golden yellow, providing yards with an abundance of fall color. Additionally, after the leaves fall, the bare and rounded lower branches can create interesting patterns, making this tree a sculpture-like focal piece. Consider hanging lights or ornaments on yours in time for winter holiday celebrations.

Follow these basic plant care techniques to help your crabapple tree thrive:

• Check the leaves for signs of disease. This tree is resilient to diseases like mildew and apple scab; however, you should still inspect its leaves weekly or bimonthly for aphids, black spots, and other signs of disease and infestation. Prune any leaves or limbs that die off in late winter to help your tree conserve energy through its dormancy period.
• Plant your tree in full sun. The ‘Spring Snow’ flowering crabapple tree thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 3–7. This range of growing zones, climates, and terrain is representative of the tree's adaptability and low-maintenance growing requirements. Crabapples have a faster-than-average growth rate, so they will likely require more direct sunshine than other plants in your garden.
• Water the tree well during its first three years. While this tree has a high drought tolerance and can establish strong root systems in various soil conditions, crabapples grow best in loam or another well-draining soil type. Water your new tree regularly up to three years after purchasing and planting it. After this amount of time, the crabapple’s roots should be well established, and it will no longer require watering, save for perhaps a drink or two during extra-dry spells.

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