The apple blossoms are one of our favorite things about spring on the farm at Bishop’s Orchards. If you live nearby, you may have seen them as you drove along Long Hill Road behind our farm market. They’re those pretty pink and white flowers on the trees right along the hillside. They are always a true sight to see and make springtime that much more enjoyable. But what some people might not know is there’s much more to them than their beauty. They serve an important purpose that impacts fruit production on the tree. So, let’s go through everything you need to know about the lifecycle of an apple blossom:
Apple blossoms typically bloom anywhere from early spring to late summer. Early apple varieties, such as McIntosh, Gala, Honeycrisp, and Fuji, will be the first ones you see. Later varieties, such as Macoun, Mutsu, and Pink Lady, will bloom later in the summer. There may be a bigger apple on the center blossom, which is also known as the “king blossom,” when it opens first.
In order for these blossoms to become fruit, they need to cross-pollinate. Some types can pollinate themselves, but it has been shown that the fruit is better when it is cross-pollinated with fruit from other trees and types. We here at Bishop’s Orchards bring in our own bees to help with the pollination process. Once complete, the blossom falls off and over time, grows into fruit.
Now that you know all this information about apple blossoms, you probably want to go see some. The farm market is held every year in Guilford, CT, from the beginning of May to the middle of May. It’s a beautiful place to drive. They can be seen right from the road and the parking lot at our store!.
One of the joys of spring is seeing apple trees covered in gorgeous white blooms before they produce fruit. The flowers add beauty to any landscape and provide early-season color. If you’re looking to add an ornamental apple tree with white flowers to your yard, there are several excellent varieties to consider.
In this guide we’ll highlight some of the best white-flowering apple trees for gardens along with tips for choosing planting, and caring for them.
Why Grow a Flowering Apple Tree?
Here are some of the benefits of adding an apple tree with white blooms to your garden
- Glorious floral display in spring before leaves emerge
- Lovely fragrance from the blossoms
- Attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies
- Provides fall interest if fruit develops
- Edible fruit on some varieties
- Shade and structure once mature
- Low maintenance once established
Flowering apple trees add multi-season beauty and often practical food production. They come in a wide range of sizes from small ornamental types to large shade trees. With so many options, it’s easy to find one suitable for your specific needs.
Best White-Flowering Apple Tree Varieties
If you’re looking for an apple tree with white flowers, these popular varieties are excellent choices:
Redlove® Apple
- White spring blooms with pink tint
- Dark red fruit in fall
- Disease resistant
- Grows 10-15 feet tall
Zestar® Apple
- Abundant white blossoms
- Early season sweet/tart fruit
- Manageable 8-12 foot size
- Good for containers
Golden Sentinel® Columnar Apple
- White flowers in spring
- Yellow fruit in fall
- Narrow upright form, only 6 feet wide
- Grows 20 feet tall
Spring Snow Crabapple
- Profuse white blooms
- Completely fruitless
- Broad spreading crown
- Grows 20 feet tall and wide
Pink Princess Crabapple
- Pale pink and white blooms
- Purplish-red foliage
- Fruitless or sparse fruit
- Grows 15 feet tall and wide
Adirondack Crabapple
- Abundant white flowers
- Persistent glossy red fruit
- Broad oval shape
- Grows 20 feet tall and wide
As you can see, you can find flowering apple trees in a wide range of sizes, shapes, flowering colors and fruiting habits. Take your space limitations and aesthetic preferences into account when selecting a variety.
How to Plant and Grow Flowering Apple Trees
Here are some tips for successfully planting and caring for ornamental apple trees with white blooms:
Sunlight – Apple trees need full sun, at least 6 hours per day or more. Morning sun is especially important.
Soil – They prefer moist, well-draining loamy soil but adapt to different soil types.
Planting – Select a spot with plenty of room, keeping in mind the mature height and width of your variety. Dig a hole 2-3 times the width of the root ball. Set the tree at the same level it was growing in the nursery pot and backfill the hole. Water thoroughly.
Fertilizer – Apply a balanced organic fertilizer at planting and yearly in early spring.
Pruning – Prune to shape the canopy in late winter. Remove crossing branches, water sprouts and suckers.
Watering – Water regularly during the first two years while roots establish, then taper off as the tree matures. Provide extra water during droughts.
Pollination – For the best fruit production, plant another compatible apple variety for cross-pollination.
Follow these simple care guidelines, and your flowering apple tree will thrive while adding beauty to your landscape.
Design Ideas for Flowering Apple Trees
Here are some suggestions for creatively incorporating flowering apple trees into your garden design:
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Accent tree – Use a compact variety like Zestar® or Golden Sentinel® near an entryway or corner.
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Border tree – Line a property edge with uniformly spaced trees like Pink Princess crabapples.
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Orchard – Plant full-size apple trees in neat rows for an organized look.
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Specimen focal point – Show off a unique variety like Adirondack crabapple as a standalone specimen.
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Container accent – Dwarf cultivars work beautifully in large planters on a patio.
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Pollinator garden – Attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds by planting clusters of different apple tree varieties.
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Cottage garden – Scatter flowering fruit trees throughout an informal garden for seasonal interest.
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Allée – Flank a straight pathway with identical apple trees on each side.
Take advantage of the diverse sizes, shapes and colors available among flowering apple trees. Getting creative with your placement can transform your landscape into a real showstopper in spring.
Common Questions About Flowering Apple Trees
Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about growing ornamental apple trees.
How long do apple trees bloom?
Apple trees typically bloom for 1-2 weeks in early to mid spring. The blooms emerge before the leaves. Cooler weather prolongs bloom time compared to warm, sunny weather.
Do all apple tree flowers turn into apples?
No. In fact, most of the flowers fade and fall off without pollinating. Only a small fraction of blooms pollinate and develop into mature fruit. Trees self-thin unpollinated blossoms.
What pollinates apple tree flowers?
Bees play the primary role in pollinating apple blossoms and carrying pollen from flower to flower for cross-pollination between compatible varieties. Plant plenty of bee-attracting flowers near your apple trees to increase pollination.
Do flowering crabapple trees produce edible fruit?
Some varieties of flowering crabapple produce edible fruits used for jellies, jam and cider. However, many are strictly ornamental and never develop fruit or only minimal sparse fruit. Check the variety description to see if your crabapple will bear edible fruit.
How do you prune flowering apple trees?
Prune flowering apple trees in late winter to shape and open their canopy. Make thinning cuts to outward facing buds to encourage horizontal branching. Remove crowded inward facing branches, watersprouts and suckers. Retain the tree’s natural form. Avoid severe pruning that removes flower buds.
With their gorgeous spring blooms and practical benefits, apple trees with white flowers make an excellent addition to any landscape. Do a bit of research to pick the perfect variety for your needs. Then plant, nurture and enjoy your flowering apple tree for many years to come.