Not all early blooming white trees are bad like the Bradford/Cleveland/Callery pear trees. Although their bloom period is shortly after the aforementioned flora, Crab-apple and apple trees are not far behind. Apple/Crab-apple trees (Malus) are members of the rose family or Rosaceae and their blooms come in a variety of colors from white, to pink, to red. If you have ever compared a rose hip to a crab-apple, the similarities are obvious. Close examination of the branches will reveal the thorn-like vestiges it shares with its Valentines Day cousin’s sharpened points. The rose family contains nearly 5,000 known species in 91 genera and includes many of the fruiting plants we are familiar with and enjoy, such as almonds, apricots, plums, cherries and apples, to name just a few. In addition to coloring our springtime landscapes, Crab-apple can feed a multitude of critters.
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