Does an Adams Crabapple Tree Need Cross Pollinator?

Ornamental Crabapple

• Ornamental crabapple trees like Adams are among the most widely cultivated spring-blooming ornamental fruit trees, according to Jacqueline Heriteau in "Complete Trees, Shrubs & Hedges." Like other ornamental fruit trees such as the flowering cherry, plum and pear, Adams crabapple is grown for its flowers. Adams is recommended by the Garden Club of America for its high level of resistance to diseases.

Adams Crabapple Fruit

• Adams flowering crabapple blooms with red flowers during spring. The flowers are followed by very small fruit that is not worth picking. The fruit, referred to as pomes, is however not toxic and is mostly eaten by wild animals and birds.

Use as Pollinator

• Although flowering crabapple trees like Adams do not require cross pollination for their own purposes, the tree may be used for cross pollination of apple trees. All apple varieties are self-unfruitful and need another apple or crabapple variety for fruit set. Flowering crabapple trees are gaining favor in commercial apple orchards as pollinators for several reasons, according to the Washington State University Extension. These include the generally longer blooming time of flowering crabapple as compared to many apple varieties and the low maintenance required by the trees.

Adams Growth Requirement

• Adams crabapple is native to the temperate, northern regions of the world and is hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9. The tree blooms from April to May and grows best in well-ventilated areas receiving full sun. Trees prefer a lightly acidic, moderately fertile soil and are drought tolerant when established. The tree responds well to pruning and its naturally compact form makes it well suited for use in smaller landscapes.