As we get started into the \u201cFall\u201d months, let\u2019s start to think about what we could use for next year in some of those future projects. Starlite\u00ae and \u2018Sparkling Sprite\u2019 are ornamental crabapples (Malus), while \u2018Emerald City\u2019 is a selected form of the native tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera). They offer contrasting choices: two flowering trees […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","tve_updated_post":"
As we get started into the \u201cFall\u201d months, let\u2019s start to think about what we could use for next year in some of those future projects. Narrow, compact landscapes can present a design challenge. However, there are other options outside of a standard arborvitae or juniper.<\/p><\/div>
Starlite\u00ae, Ivory Spear\u00ae <\/strong>and Sparkling Sprite\u00ae<\/strong> are ornamental crabapples (Malus<\/em>). While Sparkling Sprite\u00ae is a small, round tree, both Starlite\u00ae and Ivory Spear\u00ae are very upright.<\/p><\/div> Starlite\u00ae<\/strong>\n(Malus x \u2018Jeflife\u2019)<\/em> is a white-flowering crabapple. Described as a small-to-medium tree, roughly 15\u201320 feet tall and wide<\/em>. Its spring flowers are white; small red fruit may follow, adding seasonal interest.<\/p><\/div> Ivory Spear\u00ae<\/strong> (Malus \u2018JFS KW214MX\u2019)<\/em> has very tight and upright ascending branches that help to maintain its narrow form. It is known to be 18 feet tall by 7 feet wide; spring brings red color buds that turn into white blooms.<\/p><\/div> Sparkling Sprite\u00ae<\/strong>\n(Malus \u2018JFS-KW207)<\/em> is a compact crabapple suited to smaller gardens and tight planting spaces. It is commonly described as reaching about 10\u201312 feet tall and wide, though mature size can vary with climate and care. Its white flowers open from pink buds, giving the spring display a soft, two-tone effect. Its compact habit is one reason it is considered for sites where a larger crabapple would be impractical.<\/p><\/div> Both of these crabapple trees can be used as a pollinator for customers wanting a fruiting apple tree.<\/em><\/p><\/div> Christensen's has both Starlite\u00ae<\/strong> and Sparkling Sprite\u00ae <\/strong>in stock and ready for current projects. Or, as you plan for spring 2027, contact our customer service staff to learn how you can put them on order. <\/p><\/div> Reference: The Tree Book <\/em>by Michael Dirr and Keith Warren<\/p><\/div>","tve_custom_css":"@media (min-width: 300px){[data-css=\"tve-u-1a120d7ec68\"] { width: 327px; --tve-alignment: center; float: none; margin-top: 0px !important; margin-left: auto !important; margin-right: auto !important; }[data-css=\"tve-u-1a120dfd36f\"] { width: 600px; }[data-css=\"tve-u-1a121c5921b\"] { width: 327px; --tve-alignment: center; float: none; margin-left: auto !important; margin-right: auto !important; margin-top: 0px !important; }[data-css=\"tve-u-1a121d40100\"] { width: 327px; margin-top: 0px !important; --tve-alignment: center; margin-left: auto !important; margin-right: auto !important; float: none; }}","tve_user_custom_css":"","tve_globals":{"e":"1","font_cls":[]},"tcb2_ready":1,"tcb_editor_enabled":1,"tve_landing_page":"","_tve_header":"","_tve_footer":""},"categories":[131,18,66,13,82,10,22,9,6,128],"tags":[107],"class_list":["post-9841","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-2026-posts","category-about-us","category-about-you","category-business-tips","category-habitat","category-how-tos","category-landscaping","category-plant-care","category-plants","category-trees","tag-dave-dermyer"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.christensensplantcenter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9841","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.christensensplantcenter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.christensensplantcenter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.christensensplantcenter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.christensensplantcenter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9841"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.christensensplantcenter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9841\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9856,"href":"https:\/\/www.christensensplantcenter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9841\/revisions\/9856"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.christensensplantcenter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9841"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.christensensplantcenter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9841"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.christensensplantcenter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9841"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.christensensplantcenter.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/Starlite_photoDD.jpg\" "\\"Starlite_photoDD\\"")
<\/span><\/div>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.christensensplantcenter.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/Ivory-Spear-Crabapple-frt-tree-002_photocreditJ.FrankSchmidt-1.jpg\" "\\"Ivory-Spear-Crabapple-frt-tree-002_photocreditJ.FrankSchmidt\\"")
<\/span><\/div>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.christensensplantcenter.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/SparklingSprite_photoDD.jpg\" "\\"SparklingSprite_photoDD\\""){kind=icon}
<\/span><\/div>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.christensensplantcenter.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/dermyer.png\" "\\"dermyer\\"")
<\/span><\/div>