Malus 'Fozam' FOX FIRE is a broad-spreading crabapple with white, fragrant flowers that bloom in April and bright red fruit topped with a distinctive yellow beak. This hardy tree grows 10, 15 feet tall with an even wider spread, thriving in zones 4, 8 and requiring only moderate water once established. Its compact stature and stellar disease resistance make it a reliable choice for small landscapes, street plantings, and urban gardens where spring color and persistent fall fruit matter.
Full Sun
Moderate
4-8
180in H x 240in W
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Moderate
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Single white flowers perfume the spring air in April, followed by cheerful red crabapples barely half an inch across, each with a sunny yellow beak that catches the light. The tree's broad, spreading form creates a welcoming silhouette without demanding constant attention; established trees laugh off drought and adapt to nearly any soil you offer them. Birds and butterflies flock to it in seasons when they need it most, and its proven resistance to the major crabapple scourges means you'll spend more time enjoying it and less time troubleshooting.
FOX FIRE serves primarily as an ornamental flowering and fruiting tree, particularly valued for street plantings and landscape focal points where spring bloom and persistent fruit color are desired. The edible crabapples can be harvested for jams, jellies, and ciders, though their true purpose is visual and ecological. Gardeners and municipalities plant it specifically where urban conditions would stress less hardy ornamentals, relying on its tolerance of compacted soils and air pollution.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Crabapples mature in fall and can be harvested when they reach full red color with the characteristic yellow beak clearly visible. Pick by hand or allow them to drop naturally if using them for processing into jams or ciders. The fruit hangs persistently on branches and need not be harvested immediately, providing ornamental interest well into autumn.
Prune FOX FIRE in late winter as needed to maintain its broad-spreading form and remove any crossing or dead wood. Avoid pruning in spring, as fresh cuts expose the tree to fireblight bacterium. The tree's naturally dense branching requires minimal intervention, though occasional thinning helps maintain air circulation.
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“The genus Malus traces back to ancient Latin, where the name itself meant apple, honoring fruit that humans have cultivated across Europe, Asia, and North America for millennia. Malus 'Fozam', sold commercially under the trade name FOX FIRE, joins a curated lineage of crabapple selections bred for ornamental impact and garden reliability. While the exact breeding pedigree remains proprietary, this cultivar represents decades of horticultural refinement aimed at delivering disease-resistant trees that perform in challenging urban and suburban settings.”