{"product_id":"red-jewel-crabapple","title":"Red Jewel Crabapple","description":"\u003ch1\u003eThe Crabapple That Lights Up Winter With Glossy Red Fruit\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRed Jewel Crabapple (\u003cem\u003eMalus\u003c\/em\u003e 'Jewelcole') is grown for one of the finest winter-fruit displays of any flowering tree — clouds of white flowers in spring give way to masses of glossy, bright-red fruit that cling to the branches deep into winter, glowing against the snow and feeding birds long after other berries have been stripped. Its tidy upright-pyramidal form (15 to 18 feet) suits most yards, and it's hardy all the way to zone 3. Whether you're adding winter color in Edina, a four-season specimen in Woodbury, or a bird-friendly tree in Maple Grove, Red Jewel keeps the landscape alive when everything else has gone quiet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eRed Jewel 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 'Jewelcole' (Red Jewel)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRed Jewel 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\u003e12–15 feet — tidy upright pyramidal\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) — essential for the best flowering and fruit\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\u003eWhite single flowers in mid-spring\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFruit\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbundant glossy bright-red fruit that persists deep into winter — outstanding bird food\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFoliage\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeciduous — clean green leaves turning yellow in 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 Jewel Crabapple Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWinter Color and Bird Gardens\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRed Jewel's signature is its long-lasting bright-red fruit, which holds well past the holidays and feeds cedar waxwings, robins, and finches when natural food is scarce. It's one of the best crabapples for a wildlife-friendly yard and for winter interest against the snow.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTidy Flowering Specimen\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe neat upright-pyramidal form and clean white spring bloom make Red Jewel a refined specimen for a front lawn or entry in Edina or Plymouth, at a size that fits most residential yards.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTough Tree and Apple Pollinator\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSalt- and urban-tolerant, Red Jewel works well on boulevards, and as a flowering crab it doubles as an excellent pollination partner for eating apples like Honeycrisp and Haralson that bloom at the same time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Red Jewel 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 Jewel 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. Allow room for the 12–15 foot mature spread.\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 Jewel 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 Jewel 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 Jewel 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 long does the fruit last?\u003c\/strong\u003e Exceptionally long — the glossy bright-red fruit clings deep into winter, providing color against the snow and a critical late-season food source for birds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it messy?\u003c\/strong\u003e No — because the fruit persists on the branches rather than dropping, and birds eat much of it, there's little litter on the ground.\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\u003eAdirondack Crabapple\u003c\/strong\u003e — an upright, exceptionally disease-resistant crab with orange-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\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSparkling Sprite Crabapple\u003c\/strong\u003e — a compact crab with white flowers and golden winter fruit.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHoneycrisp Apple\u003c\/strong\u003e — Minnesota's famous eating apple, pollinated well by flowering crabs.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- tt-enriched --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Many Red Jewel Crabapples Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRed Jewel is best used as a specimen rather than a hedge. Give a single tree 14–16 feet of clear width so the upright-pyramidal crown can fill out evenly. For an informal grouping on a larger lot, plant a triangle of 3 set 14–15 feet apart — the massed winter fruit display is spectacular. On a boulevard row, space trees 15–18 feet on center.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eRed Jewel Crabapple Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e Clouds of clean white single flowers blanket the branches in mid-May, buzzing with bees and pollinating nearby apple trees.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e Tidy green foliage on a neat pyramidal crown while the heavy crop of small fruit develops quietly underneath.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e Leaves turn yellow and drop to reveal branches loaded with glossy bright-red fruit just as the rest of the yard fades.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e The signature season — masses of red fruit glow against the snow deep into winter, drawing cedar waxwings, robins, and finches when little else is available.\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\/adirondack-crabapple\"\u003eAdirondack Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e — an upright, ultra disease-resistant crab whose orange-red fruit complements Red Jewel's display.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/prairiefire-crabapple\"\u003ePrairiefire Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e — deep pink-red bloom for spring contrast against Red Jewel's white flowers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/sparkling-sprite-crabapple\"\u003eSparkling Sprite Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e — compact with golden winter fruit; gold-and-red fruit together make a striking winter pairing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/honeycrisp-apple\"\u003eHoneycrisp Apple\u003c\/a\u003e — Minnesota's favorite eating apple, reliably pollinated by a nearby Red Jewel.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Red Jewel Crabapple Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRed Jewel thrives in full sun (6+ hours) in nearly any Minnesota soil — clay-loam, urban fill, even salted boulevard edges — and needs about 14 feet of width at maturity. It's the top pick if winter color and feeding birds matter to you. Protect young trunks from rabbits and deer. It's not a fit if your site is shady or you want a fruitless, litter-free patio tree — consider a columnar crab like Red Barron for tighter spots.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"1.75\"BB","offer_id":54260815429937,"sku":"GT-T2869","price":343.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"2\"BB","offer_id":54260815462705,"sku":"GT-T2870","price":384.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"2.5\"BB","offer_id":54260815495473,"sku":"GT-T2872","price":452.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/red-jewel-crabapple.jpg?v=1779426692","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/red-jewel-crabapple","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}