Autumn 2024Order now for delivery from week commencing 4th November for pot grown trees or December for bare-root or mixed tree orders.
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Prairie Fire® crab apple trees

Malus
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  • Blossom colour: Pink - dark
  • Fruit colour: Red

Malus 'Prairie Fire' is an outstanding small American crab-apple. The main attraction is the abundant stunning dark pink blossom - helped by flowers which are quite large by crab-apple standards.

Seen from a distance on a spring day, particularly in the early morning or late afternoon, the tree really does look like a fire.

In autumn the red cherry-like fruitlets are also quite large, and useful for wildlife. In areas with warm autumn days and cool nights the leaves take on golden hues.

Prairie Fire crab apple trees for sale

Pot-grown

All pot-grown trees are suitable for planting out in the garden, some are suitable for growing in containers.

  • PG12-year 12L pot-grown tree Semi-vigorous rootstock £71.50
    Medium tree (2m-3m after 10 years)
    Out of stock
    Please try next season
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Call us on 01759 392007 or fill in our contact form.

Delivery charges

Delivery for a single tree starts at £9.95, it is calculated based on your postcode.

Growing and Training

Malus 'PrairieFire' is easy to grow and not usually troubled by diseases. It has a distinctly spreading habit.

History

Malus 'Prairie Fire', more correctly known as Malus 'Prairiefire', was developed by Daniel Dayton at the University of Illinois in the 1980s. The university was part of the highly-regarded disease-resistant apple program of the "PRI" co-operative of Purdue, Rutgers, and Illinois universities . Many of the PRI varieties have the letters "pri" in their names, and Prairiefire maintains this tradition.

Like many of the newer crab-apple varieties it is far more disease-resistant than the old traditional ones.


Prairie Fire characteristics

Growing

  • Flowering group4
  • Pollinating othersGood

Using

  • Picking seasonLate
  • CroppingGood

Problems

  • Disease resistanceGood

Identification

  • Country of originUnited States
  • Period of origin1950 - 1999
  • Flowering monthApril
  • Blossom colourPink - dark
  • Fruit colourRed

British-grown trees Trees grown in the UK.

Unlike many garden centres and online retailers, the vast majority of our fruit trees are grown in the UK. Find out more.

In addition, all our trees are certified under the Plant Healthy scheme, supervised by the Plant Health Alliance. Other stakeholders include Defra and the RHS. The scheme aims to improve UK biosecurity by setting standards for all growers and retailers involved in selling plants in the UK. Find out more
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Guaranteed fruit trees

When you buy your fruit tree from Orange Pippin Fruit Trees we guarantee it for the first season in your garden whilst it gets established. If it doesn't grow successfully, we'll either replace it the following season or offer a refund - subject to some conditions. Find out more.

This variety description was researched and written by Orange Pippin staff. Last checked: 2023.