Red Jade is a weeping crabapple that transforms spring gardens into cascades of delicate white flowers and autumn landscapes into jeweled branches heavy with brilliant red fruit. This hybrid between M. floribunda and M. prunifolia reaches 12, 15 feet tall with a graceful spreading habit, thriving in hardiness zones 4, 8. The distinctive weeping form, paired with showy white blooms in April and persistent red fruit that feeds birds through winter, makes this ornamental tree a living sculpture in any landscape. Mature trees adapt well to urban conditions and require only moderate water once established, making them surprisingly low-maintenance for the visual impact they deliver.
Full Sun
Moderate
4-8
180in H x 240in W
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Moderate
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Red Jade's most striking feature is its weeping habit, where slender branches naturally cascade downward in a soft, fountainlike form that few other crabapples achieve as elegantly. The white flowers appear in April, followed by small red fruit that clings to branches well into winter, creating seasonal interest across multiple seasons. Its compact size compared to the parent species, typically 12, 15 feet rather than 20, 30 feet, means it fits into residential gardens without overwhelming the space, yet the mature spread of 20 feet provides substantial visual presence.
Red Jade functions as a flowering ornamental tree, valued for its aesthetic contribution to landscapes. The small red fruit, though technically edible, is produced primarily for its visual appeal in the garden and as a food source for birds and butterflies rather than for human consumption or culinary purposes.
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Prune Red Jade in late winter as needed to maintain its weeping form and remove any crossing or damaged branches. Avoid spring pruning, which creates fresh cuts that expose the wood to fireblight infection; the bacterium readily enters through these open wounds during warm weather. Established trees require only minimal pruning to keep the weeping silhouette balanced and attractive.
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“Red Jade is a cultivar of Malus × scheideckeri, a hybrid crabapple born from crossing M. floribunda and M. prunifolia. The parent species were selected for their ornamental qualities: floribunda for its abundant pink double flowers, and prunifolia for its larger fruits and hardiness. The hybrid itself represents deliberate breeding for landscape performance, and Red Jade was selected from this hybrid line specifically for its distinctive weeping form and refined white flowers, becoming a cultivated ornamental rather than a naturally occurring plant.”