Prairiefire Flowering Crabapple

Scientific Name: Malus ‘Prairifire’

Order: Rosales

Family: Rosaceae

Type: Tree

Endangered Status: n/a

Number of Recorded Individuals at the Zoo: 134

Prairiefire flowering crabapple sets itself apart from other crabapple trees with its spring-blooming, magenta and red flowers that bloom among purple-hued foliage. In the fall, small, fuchsia crabapple fruit emerges as its leaves age to a dark green and then orange. This cultivar is a complex hybrid introduced by the University of Illinois. It prefers medium moisture, well-drained, acidic soil in full sun and can be effective as an individual planting or in small groups. The crabapple fruit serves as a food source for a variety of birds.

Native Range
From cultivation

USDA Hardiness Zone
4–8

Average Mature Height
20 feet

Flower Color
Pink

Flowering Months
April–May

Supports
Birds and small mammals