{"product_id":"red-barron-crabapple","title":"Red Barron Crabapple","description":"\u003ch1\u003eA Narrow Columnar Crabapple With Four Seasons of Color\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRed Barron Crabapple (\u003cem\u003eMalus\u003c\/em\u003e 'Red Barron') delivers a full color story in one of the slimmest profiles around — just 6 to 8 feet wide at 15 to 18 feet tall. Deep-red buds open to single dark-pink blossoms in mid-spring, glossy bronze-purple foliage carries rich color through summer, and persistent red fruit lights up the bare branches into winter for the birds. That tight, upright column makes it ideal where a spreading crab would never fit, and it's hardy all the way to zone 3. Whether you're lining a boulevard in St. Paul, screening a narrow side yard in Plymouth, or adding a bold vertical accent in Edina, Red Barron packs four-season interest into a small footprint.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eRed Barron Crabapple Plant Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAttribute\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDetail\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eMalus\u003c\/em\u003e 'Red Barron'\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRed Barron Crabapple, Columnar Crabapple, Flowering Crabapple\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Height\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e15–18 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Width\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6–8 feet — narrowly upright\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSun\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun (6+ hours) — needed for the richest foliage and best bloom\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate. Tolerant of dry spells once established; appreciates consistent moisture while young.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUSDA Zones\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–8 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a) — very hardy across the metro\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoil\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHighly adaptable. Tolerates Minnesota clay-loam, urban soil, and road salt.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFlowers\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeep-red buds opening to single dark-pink flowers in mid-spring\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFruit\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePersistent red fruit — ornamental and good for birds\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFoliage\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeciduous — glossy bronze-purple leaves through summer and fall\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWinter Hardiness\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReliable to -40°F once established\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeer Resistance\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLow to moderate — protect young trees in high-pressure yards\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eRed Barron Crabapple Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eNarrow Boulevards and Tight Side Yards\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt just 6–8 feet wide, Red Barron slips into boulevards, planting strips, and slim side yards where a rounded crab would crowd the space. Plant a row for a colorful narrow screen between close-set homes in Richfield or St. Louis Park.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eBold Vertical Accent\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tight, upright column topped with dark-pink bloom and bronze-purple foliage makes a striking vertical exclamation point. Use a single tree as a corner accent or flank an entry with a matched pair for a clean, formal frame.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFour-Season Interest and Bird Food\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRed buds and dark-pink flowers in spring, bronze-purple foliage in summer, and persistent red fruit into winter give Red Barron a long season of color — and the fruit feeds cedar waxwings, robins, and finches when food is scarce.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Red Barron Crabapple in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCrabapples are deciduous, so you have two good planting windows in the Twin Cities:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpring (late April–May)\u003c\/strong\u003e, once the ground has thawed, is excellent — the tree gets the full growing season to establish before its first winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFall (September–mid-October)\u003c\/strong\u003e also works well. Plant at least six weeks before the ground freezes so roots can settle in. Avoid mid-summer planting when heat stress is highest, and never plant into frozen ground.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant Red Barron Crabapple\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDig wide, not deep — the hole should be 2–3 times the root ball width but only as deep as the ball itself. In heavy clay, dig even wider.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCheck drainage — if water pools in the hole, break through clay hardpan or mound-plant slightly to keep roots out of standing water.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBackfill with the native soil mixed with 20–30% compost. Don't create a pure-compost \"container\" in clay.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSet the tree so the top of the root ball sits at or just above grade. Space trees 5–7 feet apart for a narrow screen.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBuild a 3–4 inch water basin around the root zone to direct water to the roots; flatten it before winter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMulch with 2–3 inches of shredded bark or wood chips, kept 2 inches from the trunk, and wrap the young trunk to deter rabbits and deer.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering Red Barron Crabapple in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFirst Year Watering Schedule\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWeeks 1–2: water every 1–2 days, deep and slow. Month 1–2: every 3–4 days. Month 3 through fall: every 5–7 days during active growth, less when rainfall is adequate. Stop watering 2–3 weeks before the ground freezes in late October so the tree can harden off for winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAfter Year One\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEstablished Red Barron Crabapple is fairly tough and drought-tolerant, needing supplemental water mainly during extended dry spells (2+ weeks with no rain). Water deeply to 6–8 inches every 7–14 days during drought, and let natural rainfall do most of the work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill Red Barron Crabapple survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes — it's hardy to about -40°F and well adapted to the Twin Cities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow narrow does it stay?\u003c\/strong\u003e Just 6–8 feet wide at 15–18 feet tall — one of the narrowest flowering crabs, ideal for boulevards and tight spaces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes it have fruit?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes — unlike some columnar crabs, Red Barron sets persistent red fruit that holds into winter, adding color and feeding the birds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan it pollinate my apple tree?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes — like other flowering crabs, it's an excellent pollinator for eating apples that bloom at the same time, such as Honeycrisp and Haralson.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVelvet Pillar Crabapple\u003c\/strong\u003e — another narrow columnar crab with burgundy foliage and pink flowers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRoyal Raindrops Crabapple\u003c\/strong\u003e — a purple-leaf crab with magenta flowers and cutleaf foliage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRuby Dayze Crabapple\u003c\/strong\u003e — a ruby-pink crab with bronze-purple foliage and dark-red fruit.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePrairiefire Crabapple\u003c\/strong\u003e — a disease-resistant crab with deep pink-red flowers and dark fruit.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- tt-enriched --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Many Red Barron Crabapples Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a narrow flowering screen, space Red Barron 5–7 feet apart (center to center). At 6 feet of spacing:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRun Length\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTrees Needed\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e12 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e36 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e48 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e9\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e60 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e11\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a single vertical accent, allow 8 feet of clear width; for a formal entry pair, set the two trees 10–12 feet apart so the columns read as a matched frame.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eRed Barron Crabapple Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e Deep-red buds open to single dark-pink blossoms in mid-spring (typically mid-May in the Twin Cities), drawing bees and other early pollinators.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e Glossy bronze-purple foliage holds rich, dark color on the tight column all season — a strong contrast against green lawns and light siding.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e Foliage deepens before dropping, and the small red fruit colors up and begins to stand out on the branches.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e Persistent red fruit glows against the snow well into winter, feeding cedar waxwings, robins, and finches, while the narrow upright silhouette stays architectural even bare.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAt a Glance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✔ Pollinator-Friendly   ✔ Salt-Tolerant   ✔ Drought-Tolerant   ✔ Four-Season Interest\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant It With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/velvet-pillar-crabapple\"\u003eVelvet Pillar Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e — the other narrow columnar crab; alternate the two for a burgundy-and-pink ribbon along a fence line.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/royal-raindrops-crabapple\"\u003eRoyal Raindrops Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e — echoes the purple foliage in a wider, vase-shaped form for an anchor planting nearby.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/ruby-dayze-crabapple\"\u003eRuby Dayze Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e — ruby-pink bloom and dark-red fruit that extend the same color story at specimen scale.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/prairiefire-crabapple\"\u003ePrairiefire Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e — a disease-resistant rounded crab that pairs well where you have more width to fill.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Red Barron Crabapple Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRed Barron thrives in full sun (6+ hours) in almost any Minnesota soil, including clay-loam and salted boulevard strips, and it needs only 6–8 feet of width — ideal for narrow side yards, planting strips, and tight lot lines. Deer protection is smart for young trees in high-pressure neighborhoods. It's not a fit if your spot gets less than six hours of sun or you want a wide, spreading shade canopy — choose a rounded crab or a shade tree instead.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"1.5\"BB","offer_id":54260815659313,"sku":"GT-T2835","price":329.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"1.75\"BB","offer_id":54260815692081,"sku":"GT-T2840","price":343.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"2\"BB","offer_id":54260815724849,"sku":"GT-T2842","price":384.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"2.5\"BB","offer_id":54260815757617,"sku":"GT-T2844","price":411.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/red-barron-crabapple.jpg?v=1779426692","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/red-barron-crabapple","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}