Why Plant Indian Summer Flowering Crabapple?
Indian Summer Crabapple is a dependable, disease-resistant Crabapple tree that has stood the test of time. This handsome ornamental tree will grace your garden with loads of rose-red flowers in spring and hundreds of glossy red fruits in fall. In winter, you’ll want to pull up a chair by the window and watch the birds pick off the crab apples one by one. Indian Summer is easy to grow, even in clay soil and urban landscapes. Hey, city birds need food, too!
For you backyard orchardists, Indian Summer Crab is also a good pollinator for many kinds of eating apples. There are hundreds of varieties of Apples and Crabapples available today (a Crabapple is an Apple with fruits less than two inches wide). Bob Simpson of Vincennes, Indiana was one contributor to this smorgasbord and was responsible for introducing several respected varieties, including Indian Summer. Simpson Nursery—one of the nation’s oldest nurseries—grew fruit trees (mainly Apples, Peaches, and Cherries) for much of its history. Bob switched the emphasis to ornamental plants in 1968, but he always loved fruiting plants, even if the fruits were only for the birds.
How to use Indian Summer Flowering Crabapple in the landscape?
Indian Summer Crabapple is a nice addition to a wildlife garden, a specimen tree planted by a window, planted in groves or along your driveway - the possibilities are endless! Rosy red flowers bloom in spring (perfect for honeybees), bright red crabapples appear in fall (perfect for visiting birds) and the fall color isn't too shabby either!
Planting Zones
Hardiness Zone: 4-8
How To Plant Indian Summer Flowering Crabapple
Flowering Crabapples grow well in a wide range of soil conditions and should be planted in a sunny area of your yard; they can tolerate very light shade as well. They prefer a well-draining, moist and acidic soil.
How To Water
As with all trees, keep your newly planted Crabapple watered. Don’t keep the soil too wet, however, moist soil is fine. When freshly planted, water your new tree slowly, deeply, and thoroughly. You should water this way for the first growing season, every three to four days. Once established, your Indian Summer will be somewhat drought tolerant.
How To Fertilize
When planting, we recommend that you apply the Bower & Branch Starter Plant Food to ensure your tree has the nutrients it needs to begin to establish itself. Crabapples like fertilizer, the more you give them – the more they grow. Once a year, apply a simple tree fertilizer during fall to help promote new growth and flowers for the following season.
How To Prune
Pruning Flowering Crabapples is fairly easy. It's best to prune in late winter, while dormant. Remove any suckers around the base of your tree whenever they appear as these will inhibit the growth of your tree.
How Does Shipping Work?
Bower & Branch Trees, the real BIG trees, don’t fit in a box! Our big trees, sizes XL and bigger, require expert delivery and care, that means our extra-large trees are shipped on Bower & Branch trucks. We are the only ones who know how to ship our big and bigger trees and plants with tender loving care. We deliver your trees and plants directly to you. Ask Bower & Branch about planting services – we'd be happy to assist in installation.
*For Big trees and Shrubs, Size XL and bigger: Review our Seasonal Shipping Timelines and Policy here.
Your trees and plants are grown across the United States at various Bower & Branch Growers. Depending on your location, your plant orders may be shipped from various locations. Please expect orders with multiple items to be delivered over a number of days as a result. Orders made up of numerous items or selections will not arrive at your home on the same day.
Shipping Delays:
From time to time, Bower & Branch Growers may determine to delay order shipment based on various factors for plant health. Weather in your region, as well as, where your plants are grown, is always considered when shipping. Extreme weather conditions may delay some or all of your order. Bower & Branch allows our Growers to make final shipping decisions based solely to benefit your trees and plants’ health and success.
How Does Sizing Work?
The size of our trees have nothing to do with the container size like you may find elsewhere–big doesn't mean just height - it’s also vigor, age, and overall health. Other online retailers are going to tell you that a plant is a seven gallon, that means nothing to your tree or plant (or you.)
Our trees for sale online are graded on large, x-large, and even bigger sizes. This is because our trees are sized by their age—the higher the letter, the more mature the tree. The age determines the trees’ overall height, size of the trunk and the overall branch density.
All of these characteristics are what you should be looking for when choosing a tree for immediate impact and instant curb appeal. Our extra-large tree and plant sizes are sure to wow you and your neighbors!
See the size guides below.
