Key features
AwardsRHS Award of Garden Merit
Final size3 x 3 metres in 20 years
FoliageGreen leaves turn yellow in autumn (deciduous)
FlowersWhite with a pink tint
SoilPrefers moist yet well-draining soil
Description
One of the best weeping Crab Apple trees, with an unusual umbrella shape and boasting red buds that open to reveal bright, white flowers tinted pink which decorate the pendulous branches which sometimes sweep to the ground. After flowering, vivid red crab apples appear in the autumn and adorn the branches through into the winter. The mid-green foliage of spring turns a deep yellow in the autumn before falling. Although a little on the small side for culinary use, the Crabs offer a glorious winter display and provide food for wildlife. Bees are also attracted to the flowers of this Malus tree for its pollen and nectar.
This small garden tree will grow 3 x 3 metres in 20 years and will thrive in all soils, favouring moist conditions. Ideal for urban areas, ‘Sun Rival’ is pollution tolerant and will grow happily in a container given the correct care. This tree has been awarded the RHS Award of Garden Merit.
AKA Weeping Crab Apple ‘Sun Rival’, Weeping Flowering Crab
Planting Steps
1Preparation
- Pot-grown plants can be planted at any time of year, whereas bare roots need to be planted between November and March.
- Clear weeds and grass within a metre of the planting hole.
- Dig a hole as deep as the root mass and twice as wide.
- To help your plant establish more effectively, sprinkle Rootgrow in the hole.
2Planting
- Gently loosen the roots and place into the planting hole.
- Ensure the top of the plant’s compost is flush with the level of the surrounding soil and the graft union or collar of the tree is above ground level.
- Mix 50% of the original soil with 50% compost.
- Fill in the hole, firming the soil gently.
3Last Steps
- Water generously around the base of the plant.
- If you are planting either a single stem tree or mature standard tree, we recommend adding a staking kit and rabbit guard.
Aftercare Advice
Crab Apple trees require a good watering regime for a couple of years whilst they establish. Water well and regularly through spring and summer, increasing in hot or dry weather. If planting in autumn, you may only need to water a little. It is advisable to keep the area free of competing weeds and grass during this period.
You can harvest culinary Crab Apples in early autumn or leave them for birds to enjoy. The trees should be pruned in winter but do not require hard pruning. Avoid trimming the tips of branches. Simply remove any dead or damaged branches and shoots at the base of the tree i.e. suckers and water sprouts.
For more detailed advice and video guides, please visit our Help & Advice section.
