Red Splendor Crab Tree - Ask Extension
The Red Splendor Crab tree was planted 3 years ago. Last year it was fully bloomed by the second week of May. Currently I have only seen a few blooms....
Knowledgebase
Red Splendor Crab Tree #867862
Asked May 10, 2024, 11:07 AM EDT
The Red Splendor Crab tree was planted 3 years ago. Last year it was fully bloomed by the second week of May. Currently I have only seen a few blooms. It looks healthy and we have gotten enough rain and I have checked the ground and it says moist. I sprayed it for the apple scab as soon as I saw the green tips coming out. It is showing alot of green and red leaves. Am I being impatient and just wait and see? I did have a red splendor previous to this one for almost 20 years and it bloomed every year. It is planted in the same place. That tree did not die or anything , unfortunately it had to come down due to the front yard needing to be dug up for plumbing issues. Am I just being impatient and it will bloom?
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
Hi Betsy,
Red Splendor is one of the varieties that flowers heavily one year and rests the second year by having a lighter bloom. This is true even if the tree is healthy. Sometimes this characteristic fades as the tree matures.
Some apple trees do this too, so it’s a characteristic in the apple family. See this:
https://asotincd.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/RedSplendorCrabapple.pdf
The tree looks healthy. Keep making sure it’s watered if it’s dry and be patient. Next year it should be spectacular!
Good luck.
