Malus × 'Dorothea'
Dorothea Flowering Crabapple

Family:

Rosaceae (Rose Family) 211

Genus:

Malus (Apple, Crabapple, Flowering Crabapple) 75

Plant Type:

Tree 569

Growth Forms:

Upright 572

Hardiness:

USDA Zone 4 515

Deciduous / Evergreen:

Deciduous 836

Flower Notes:

Red;pink (Buds deep red; flowers rosey-pink, semi-double, and 1.8" across, in clusters; late April to May)

Foliage Notes:

Green (Summer foliage); Yellow (Fall foliage)

Fruit Notes:

Yellow (0.5" dia. yellow crabapples (pomes))

Ultimate Height:

25 feet

Ultimate Spread:

25 feet

Light Requirements:

Soil Notes:

Well-drained heavy loam soils

Range:

Cultivated origin

Diagnostic Characteristics:

Simple, elliptical leaves (up to 2" long) in clusters on short spurs. Buds have several imbricate scales and are usually reddish-brown with hairs protruding under scales. Fruits have multiple seeds (as compared to the single seed pit of Prunus species). The bark of mature trees is gray to brown and scaly. Flowers have 10-15 petals.

Special Characteristics:

Flowering Characteristics 355

Fragrant Flowers 188

Fruiting Characteristics 117

Additional Information

The Flowering Crabapple is a popular small ornamental tree with an extremely showy flower display in the spring. 'Dorothea' is a dense, rounded cultivar with semi-double blooms. However, this cultivar is not suggested for use in the landscape due to its high susceptibility to apple scab and fireblight, in addition to slight susceptibility to powdery mildew. Well-drained heavy loam soils and full sun promote best growth. May look quite ragged at the end of the summer.